Inside Stuff: Pioneer exec addresses their exit from TV business, future plans

Announced here, Pioneer is exiting the TV/Plasma business for good by March 2010, and since their TV’s were rated among the top Plasmas available on the market right now, so it was a real head-scratcher.

It appears from the interview that Pioneer just wanted to focus their business on their A/V receivers and other related items, and felt the display business was diverting their funds and attention from that goal. It’s still sad to someone go out while still on top, but from a business standpoint, its not hard to see where they’re coming from.

With the impending layoffs for Pioneer coming (10,000+ layoffs over the next year or so), they probably figured they couldn’t give the products the attention they deserved. Their next-gen display design (a partnership with Panasonic) has been scrapped.

They did say they planned on going ahead with DVD/Blu-Ray players on the drawing board, so it isn’t as if Pioneer is shutting their doors altogether.

More of the (mostly self-promoting) interview here.