Sony and Panasonic are scrapping their OLED display TV panel joint-venture “alliance”, blaming technical challenges and production costs. The pair will independently focus on building 4K/Ultra-HD LCD panels.

 Both companies have faced heavy losses within their TV divisions, and local reports quote spokesmen for both businesses saying that LCD-based 4K displays show greater promise.

 The OLED j-v was announced in June 2012 and expressed targets of developing mass-production OLED technology by the end of 2013. While hard numbers have not been made available it would seem that the elusive lower-cost development have not materialised.

 LG and Samsung both continue with large-screen OLED displays but their prices are noticeably higher than the LCD-equivalents.

 More information on Sony and Panasonic’s intentions will probably emerge during CES which opens on January 7.

Categories: Articles, Business, Equipment, Joint Venture, Ultra-HD/4K