Audio Video News

Days of Plasma TV Coming to a Close

Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 14, 2014  |  First Published: Nov 12, 2014

Editor's note: This story has been updated.

Samsung and LG will end production of plasma TVs at the end of November signaling the death knell for a TV technology that has been the darling of video enthusiasts for more than a decade. Though plasma’s black-level performance has made it a perennial critic’s favorite, sales have dwindled in recent years.

We thought Samsung’s exit left LG as the only manufacturer making plasma sets for the U.S. until we received an official statement from LG announcing that it, too, would be wrapping up plasma production at the end of the month:

Effective November 30, 2014, production of plasma display panels (PDP) at LG Electronics will come to an end. Going forward, LG will focus on enhancing and expanding its OLED and LCD TV product portfolios.

The PDP assembly and modular lines located in the facility in Gumi, South Korea, are expected to be converted to manufacture OLED TVs, LCD TVs, and PC monitors. LG does not intend to sell off any of its commercial properties and the approximately 400 affected personnel will be reassigned to other areas within LG by the end of the year.

Sales of plasma TVs have been on a constant decline and in 2013, LG’s PDP business generated revenues of just $1.33 billion (USD)—only 2.35 percent of the company’s total revenues that year.

Manufacturers are redirecting their attention to making LCD sets cheaper, seeking growth in 4K/Ultra HD TV, experimenting with novelties like curved screens, and looking to OLED as the next-generation technology of choice in high-end video displays. What’s frustrating to videophiles is that mass-market OLED is not well developed enough to replace the best plasmas as the sweet spot in price/performance ratio.

COMMENTS
Oppo please's picture
Submitted by Oppo please on November 13, 2014 - 9:33am

I just bought one of the Samsung 51" Plasmas from HH Gregg last week for like $550. So far it is looking very good in my home theater area. I expect very good service out of it as it replaced an old 30" CRT Samsung HDTV that was over 10 years old. My other plasma is a 42" Panasonic model. I think ST. Too bad many people don't simply understand plasma is better for picture quality. But like most things people will take quantity over quality.

theo's picture
Submitted by theo on November 14, 2014 - 12:00pm

Plasma today is better than UHD sets of today. I'd take the best Samsung 8500 64" plasma today over any TV. In 5-7 years when UHD, HDMI 2.x are all well in play with supporting content, then it will be time to jump, but only if it's an OLED set. Let's face it, LED still has fundamental problems that are inherent with its technology. OLED is plasma's successor.

Arnold_Layne's picture
Submitted by Arnold_Layne on November 19, 2014 - 4:20pm

My history is thus: I bought a top of the line Fujitsu 50" plasma about 2004, for $6500. Sold the house (with TV)and bought a 50" Pioneer in 2006 for $3300. That panel is still great, even though it's 720p, better than current LCD full HD panels. But with the recent events cited in the article, I have just purchased a 60" F8500 for $1500. I hope it lasts as long as the Pioneer.

stodgers's picture
Submitted by stodgers on November 20, 2014 - 8:39am

I bought a Pioneer Elite plasma in 2008, and to this day, I still get visitors to my home who say "wow, that is an amazing picture". These folks have current generation LCD and OLED screens, and still they marvel at a 7 year-old display.

I can only hope this display lasts until I die, because I don't know how I would replace it.

Music Man's picture
Submitted by Music Man on November 20, 2014 - 9:49pm

While I use a JVC projector in my theater room, my kitchen family room has a Pioneer 5080HD Plasma 720P and it looks fabulous. When I have the guys over for Fight Nite we watch the under card on the Pioneer Plasma and then crank up the JVC for the Main Event.

I bought the Pioneer Plasma in 2008 and it provides the best black level on the planet. We are all good.

ckantack's picture
Submitted by ckantack on November 21, 2014 - 3:11pm

I bought my first big screen TV set one year ago. I knew at the time that plasma was supposed to be better. I spent two months looking at sets in many stores and doing a lot of online research. In the end I went with an LCD set. I didn't like the glossy glass that I saw on plasma screens and, to be perfectly honest didn't see any advantage. My fully calibrated 50 inch Toshiba LCD (costs $600 in late 2013), has super accurate colors, deep black levels, great off-axis viewing,and higher resolution than the plasmas in its price range. It offers a brighter picture too when I need it. I have no regrets going LCD.

Tiberius's picture
Submitted by Tiberius on November 23, 2014 - 11:11am

" has super accurate colors, deep black levels, great off-axis viewing,and higher resolution than the plasmas in its price range " Since this entire statement is contrary to every test I've ever read ( and my own eyes ) on any Video testing web site I highly doubt it. I've recently seen the new 55" LG OLED ( priced at $3,400.00! ) and it easily beats the over all picture quality of any LED in any price range as well. LED are back lit. Not their own light source. The phosphors don't turn off all the way ( Plasma is better OLED is the best now better than plasma ) to represent black. So you statements are impossible. But I'm glad you enjoy it.

ckantack's picture
Submitted by ckantack on November 23, 2014 - 5:29pm

One more item, in addition to my own eyes preferring LED (LCD) over the plasma sets I saw, the sales people at the stores I was frequenting (Sears, Best Buy, hhgregg, etc.), were not doing anything to encourage sales of their plasma TVs. I'd hear all kinds of comments about how short the life of a plasma TV would be, screen burn-in, etc. Now I realize that most of these comments were way off base for modern plasma sets, but I'm sure many other customers were not as knowledgeable. I don't know why the plasma sets were being bad-mouthed by the sales people. But it seemed everywhere I went, there was an active campaign to steer me away from them.

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