Fujitsu Drops HDTVs

Further reducing the rapidly shrinking Japanese HDTV market, Fujitsu on Thursday said it would halt production of its AVIAMO HDTV line, signaling the end of the company's display business. The company argues that its focus for the sets, which primarly included a set of high-end plasmas built for custom and luxury home theater setups, has effectively squeeze the company out of its own market. As pricing in North America and the UK has become cutthroat, there is little money to be made in continuing the business, Fujitsu claims. Business will continue in these areas until March, when the display business will focus on Japan alone.

The revelation comes the same day as Sony shut down rear-projection TV production and after a string of defensive measures by Japanese firms to safeguard their HDTV businesses, including a chip deal between Sharp and Toshiba as well as a decision by Hitachi to sell stakes to Canon and Matsushita in its LCD production facilities. Both Fujitsu and Matsushita are believed to be recoiling from the effects of a major shift in the market from plasma to LCD, hurting either electronics giant's core businesses.

By Electronista Staff