No More Rear-Projection TVs from Sony

Despite a strong standing in the market, Sony has decided to discontinue its rear-projection TVs to focus on the hot-selling LCD segment.

The days of traditional TV technology are numbered. As consumers increasingly look to LCD and plasma technologies for their next TV purchases, CRT and rear-projection are falling by the way-side, and manufacturers are beginning to respond to the slow sales. On Wednesday, Sony confirmed rumors that it would kill off its rear-projection TV lines after existing stocks sell off.

According to TWICE, the decision came after months of study on Sony’s behalf. “We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that’s what people really want,” a Sony spokesman told the magazine. Although Sony did not reveal the market research that lead to the decision, numbers from DisplaySearch predict plunging rear-projection sales, from 3.1 million in 2006 to 1.6 million in 2007.

Sony had a particularly strong share of the rear-projection market, ranking second in sales and number one in shelf space. The company will continue to sell front-projection units for high-end home theaters.