Sony has plans to release its lowest priced LCD HDTVs early next year, the B-series, according to market contacts speaking on Tuesday. Digitimes claims Sony will release 32- and 40-inch models in the B series aimed at competing against budget brands like Vizio. The former will be priced at the equivalent of about $460 or less, well below Sony's typical pricing. The move is expected to bring back Sony's market lead in the LCD HDTV segment.

Sony will purportedly rely on Taiwanese TV makers' cost-competitiveness and production flexibility to deliver these low prices. Sony's current low-price offering, the 32-inch S-series LCD, costs the equivalent of about $610. Its price has dropped from the initial $1,390 in 2007.

If Sony is successful with increasing its market share with the B-series TVs, other manufacturers may also need to outsource to lower production costs and prices.