TOKYO — Falling behind rivals in flat-panel development for TVs, Sony is teaming with Japanese rival Sharp in procuring liquid-crystal displays, a company official said today.
Japan’s business daily The Nikkei reported today that Sony Corp. plans to invest 100 billion yen ($926 million) in a plant Sharp Corp. is building to make panels for flat TVs.
A Sony official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said a news conference will be held today in Tokyo to give details but would not elaborate.
Sharp spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama declined to comment.
Demand for slimmer TVs is growing around the world. Although the televisions use various panel technologies, LCD is the leading technology, along with plasma.
Sony does not make its own LCD or plasma-display panels. It has been buying LCD panels from Samsung Electronics of South Korea in a joint venture.
But Sony can hope to ensure panel supply through its partnership with Sharp.
Sharp and Samsung make flat TVs under their own brands, and Sony, Sharp and Samsung are competing for their piece of the global flat-TV pie.
Some surveys have shown Sony momentarily leading in LCD TV sales, but Samsung is believed to be No. 1.
Osaka-based Sharp, which is struggling to gain overseas brand recognition, still trails Samsung and Sony. Sharp’s Aquos brand of LCD TVs is extremely popular in Japan.
Sony management failed to recognize how quickly slimmer TVs would take off.
