Taiwan market: Pioneer releases new generation PDP TVs

Pioneer’s new HD-ready PDP (plasma display panel) TVs recently hit the Taiwan market with 43-inch units priced at NT$159,000 (US$4,800), according to Pioneer's Taiwan subsidiary, Pioneer High Fidelity.

The 50-inch PDP-506HDG will be available by the end of this month with prices expected to be less than NT$300,000 (US$9,000), more than 20% lower than the previous model, the company said.

The PDP-506HDG features a native resolution of 1,280x768 and a contrast ratio of 4,000:1 while the 43-inch PDP-436HDG offers a resolution of 1,024x768 and a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. In addition, with the an improved front filter in the newly released PDP TVs, even the darkest black can be reproduced in a well-lit room, according to Pioneer.

While HDTV programs are going to kick off in Taiwan in the beginning of 2006, Pioneer aims to ship 11,000 PDP TVs next year in the local market, up from 5,500 units this year, indicated Nobuyuki Kokubo, president of Pioneer High Fidelity. Locally, Pioneer ranked third in PDP TV sales, accounting for a 15% of market share, according to market sources.

In related news, LG recently unveiled a new 50-inch PDP TV model priced at about NT$180,000 (US$5,390), while Panasonic will also launch a 42-inch PDP TV priced less than NT$100,000 (US$3,000), sources indicated.

Sources: company, compiled by DigiTimes, October 2005.

Pioneer’s PDP-506HDG and PDP-436HDG PDP TV
Photo: Company