Paul Read, General Manager of Consumer Electronics at Panasonic who are the market leader in the plasma market with almost double the sales of Samsung, claims that the release yesterday of several new plasma panels from Samsung and earlier this month from Panasonic really sets plasma apart from LCD TC technology.
Among the new plasma offerings from both Panasonic and Samsung is 600Hz technology versus the 250Hz being promoted by Sony as a world first on their Bravia LCD TV range.
Both vendors have also delivered wafer thin plasma TV screens that have up to 50% power saving over current model plasma TV's. Both vendors claim that they also have superior contrast engines that deliver richer blacks and a "far superior picture".
"Plasma still has a long way to go in the evolution cycle. We are now delivering thinner, more eco friendly TV's. We have 600Hz ahead of the LCD Vendors and we are delivering a significantly better quality picture than what a consumer will find with an equally sized LCD TV" said Read. He also said that there is more development to comme over the next few years.
"Australians definitely have a better understanding of plasma as being a superior TV technology than other markets where there are declines in PDP share. I believe that our education commercials have had an effect in the market and we will continue educating consumers of the superiority of the plasma picture" he added.
One big differentiator, claims Read, is the recently introduced Panasonic Neo PDP technology, which was developed by a Panasonic R&D team. it was developed by a team that included more than 120 Pioneer display engineers who were credited with delivering the Pioneer Kuro technology that powered the Pioneer plasma TV offering. The Kuro was considered the best TV display screen in the world by consumer electronic reviewers the world over.
Australia is defying the global trend according to GFK data which shows that plasma sales actually grew in the last quarter despite a shortage of plasma stock by most suppliers.
