Pioneer may have announced a strategic withdrawal from the screen market, but that might not be the end of the Kuro name. Pioneer UK’s Jim Catcheside told HCC: ‘We’re holding onto the Kuro brand… for now.’
It’s a cryptic point also made on the opposite side of the pond. The brand’s advanced product development VP for America, Andy Parson confirms: ‘We’re still looking at how to leverage the Kuro brand. We don’t want to lightly throw that brand around,’ but if a product comes along which reflect ‘what the whole Kuro philosophy was about,’ he hints the Corporation will use it.
Speaking to US trade journal TWICE, Parson also thanked the custom install trade for their support over the years. ‘We are very, very grateful for their support. They have been a huge portion of our reputation building effort over the past ten years. We will continue to provide them with high-end DVD players, Blu-ray players, home audio and speakers.’
In the UK, there remains no clear indication just which screen maker will benefit from Pioneer’s TV exit. However, one possible winner could be Panasonic’s pro-plasma division. Custom install specialist AWE Europe has picked up exclusive distribution rights to Panasonic’s new TH-65VX100e and TH-50VX100e custom home theatre models.
Spokesman Stuart Tickle told HCC: ‘The Pioneer Kuro screens set new standards for image quality, but these new monitors from Panasonic are in some ways even better. The level of detail they offer is unparalleled.’ Both the new Panasonic screens feature ISF Day & Night calibration, something missing from the brand’s regular range.
Copyright 2006 - 2010 Future Publishing Limited
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Panasonic The New King in the Blue Corner
chipmonkmrl CAMDEN, LONDON (not verified) - 6 March 2009 - 8:35amAs I said in my reply to John Archer's original review of the Panasonic PROfessional 65VX100E, "The King is Dead! Long live the NEW King in the BLUE corner!".... that was back in EARLY January, about the time I recieved my 65VX100E, the first one purchased from out of a set of only 4 that arrived in that first batch... and that WAS BEFORE any notice given about Pioneer's sad demise in the plasma/lcd market.
I do see that Panasonic ARE the new torch-bearers for high end plasma displays, because after 2 months of ownership of this model, purchased incidentally from KENT HOME CINEMA, down in,er, Kent!!! I live in Central London, and they couldn't get UP here fast enough to deliver it... hardly suprsing at £8000!!! But their handling of the whole proceedings, knowledge (especially one young salesman, Ian's Corgie, who made the whole act of handing over such an amount so bearable!!)- what a thoroughly professional outfit, who I notice are properly accredited (BADA or CEDIA) which is PRECISELY the kind of delaer, the custom home-install market, that Panasonic Professional seek to cultivate AND supply through...
On a technical level, I said before that it was a Pioneer Beater, in terms of colour performance at a cutting-edge 18 bit, and a massive genuine, native contrast ratio of 60,000:1.... and the 'Pioneer-like' cell structure technology and black level performance, resulting in an experience NEVER hitherto witnessed from ANY Plasma or lcd on the planet, I kid you not!
If only Pioneer had taken up my suggestions (made only as a customer, and NOT on an official basis) that They shouldn't have been courting the cheaper brands, such as LG and Samsung, with low-cost models that eventually sold at a fraction of their recommended price at the cost-cutting, box-shifting merchants of the Edgware and Tottenham Court Roads...
If you don't believe me, take a look on Pioneer's UK website for the dealer list of Central London, and you'll still find as I did a couple of days ago, that they list LOADS of these bucket- shop outfits....often next door to one another,quite literally, I kid you not! And who are the ringleaders? every fifth man! (ooops! that should read 'shop'!!)
Perhaps had they maintained a good solid network of top-of-the-line dealerships (as they did used to do) where Service is King, and Price secondary, and continued courting the PREMIUM product market (remember, just a few years ago, people were actually paying as much as £10,000 for 42/50" plasmas, and certainly £4/5,000 just 3 years ago for PREMIUM product... picking up today a Pioneer Plasma panel for around a Grand is why they are out of business.... well, it is one of the reasons.....
Panasonic PRO quite rightly are doing their UTMOST to ensure this does NOT befall them! According to my source there, the ever charasmatic Jatin Bhatt, he believed that such a Prestigeous Premium Product, of World-Beating Class, should only be marketed and distributed by a select network of PREMIUM dealers, and Custom Home Cinema Installation dealers SUITABLY accredited with the comensurate knowledge and ability to professionally handle this product. Well, that kinda wipes out both those TWO aforementioned Roads in London!!!
So, there we have it! the Pro Division will keep a tight reign over their new baby, and no Anil, Nalin or Jimmy the Greek, cut-rate merchant is going to spoil Panasonic Pro's Party... and marketing strategy... So NO 50% OFF stickers on Pana Baby's stock, then!
Well, They've earned it! They Actually went and produced a panel that Betters (or should that be "Batters"!!!)
a production model from Pioneer, my lifetime Heroes..... and will no doubt take up the flag for plasma technology, and deliver us some more cutting-edge enhanced models in the very near future, and, for those who can't afford the Pro models, I am certain that the features developed by them (quite independently of their Consumer "Viera" badged product range, which has nothing at all...well, not much, to do with the Professional division, which designed,developed and manufactured this flagship model all by themselves FROM THE GROUND UP! )- will find their way into the consumer products in the near future, at a price that you can afford....
With this flagship technology, I foresee them introducing a NEW SIZE of panel for the home cinema market, to satisfy all us DREAMERS of their 103"..... namely an 80/85" model of similar specification to VX range (Thin IS GOOD, boys!) which would NOT require the use of a CRANE to deliver and install it, but could be carried by just 2 strong men and a van... I say there is a market for ULTRA high quality screens of a large size, where a projector is not always wanted for extended viewing, especially during daylight hours.... My source hinted that my dream size/cost model may not be that far away, with the opening up of their new glass panel production factory complex in Japan later this year.... so start saving up now!!!
There's a NEW King on the block, now! His name is Panasonic. Just don't forget to ADD the word PRO.....