[opendtv] Re: New Sony COO bullish on Blu-ray

  • From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 20:49:13 -0400


Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
> "Also left unanswered was how Sony would address the transition to
> high-definition broadcasting on the signal conversion front, which
> remains the province of cable companies supplying set-top boxes. Glasgow
> said, 'We don't have a set-top box strategy.'"
> 
> What a weird comment.
> 
Nobody wants to be responsible for the OTA reception end of the digital 
TV transition.  TV manufacturers or even satellite companies are willing 
  to integrate that function at a possible loss into boxes primarily 
sold for other purposes when they have to do so.

Cable companies would rather sell cable-only boxes anyway and have no 
particular problem delivering the locals that way.  I don't really 
expect all this to change in the next couple years.

But as the supposed (but not yet really legislated) turn-off date 
approaches I'd at least expect a couple DVR's.

- Tom


> Of course they have a strategy on the signal conversion front. It's
> obvious to any consumer. The strategy is, Sony will happily sell you a
> new set with integrated HDTV receiver, or as far as Sony is concerned,
> you can keep watching NTSC.
> 
> If HDTV "remains the province of ... ," it's only because Sony (and the
> other major vendors) has mysteriously allowed it to be this way. Or are
> we to believe it was all an unforseeable accident?
> 
> Bert
> 
> ------------------------------------
> New Sony COO bullish on Blu-ray
> 
> Spencer Chin
> (05/10/2006 3:48 PM EDT)
> URL: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=3D187201990
> 
> NEW YORK - While acknowledging that the optical disk wars are far from
> over, Sony Electronics Inc.'s new president and chief operating officer,
> Stan Glasgow, believes the Blu-ray Disc format will emerge as the
> winner.
> 
> Speaking at a press conference here Wednesday (May 10), Glasgow, who
> became president and COO of Sony's U.S arm on April 1, said consumers
> will likely decide within the next 12 to 24 months who wins the optical
> disk wars. But he believes the higher capacity of Blu-ray compared to
> HD-DVD will win over consumers.
> 
> "As I watch high-definition TV, I am compelled to store everything on a
> disk," Glasgow said.
> 
> Sony has put all of its eggs into the Blu-ray basket. The company plans
> to unveil a Blu-ray Disc player in July, and will incorporate Blu-ray
> Disc optical drives into its long-awaited Playstation 3, as well as in
> its Vaio PCs.
> 
> Later this month, Sony is slated to unleash the first wave of Blu-ray
> Disc titles.
> 
> But glitches ramain. With Sony's own Blu-ray Disc player still several
> months away, the first U.S. Blu-ray Disc player will come from Samsung,
> which has pushed back the launch of its player to June.
> 
> Glasgow conceded it is "not a slam-dunk" that Blu-ray will be an
> immediate success. He cited the high initial prices for Blu-ray
> products, and warned of possible component shortages that could limit
> product supplies. He did not provide details on which components might
> be in short supply, but noted that robust mobile phone and flat-panel TV
> sales as competitors for some parts.
> 
> Glasgow said Sony was continuing to expand production of flat-panel LCD
> TVs through its S-LCD venture with Samsung. He added that the company
> was bolstering its efforts in rear projection, liquid crystal-on-silicon
> TVs as well.
> 
> Glasgow declined to provide an additional details on Playstation 3, now
> slated to debut in November, six months after the scheduled May launch
> date.
> 
> Also left unanswered was how Sony would address the transition to
> high-definition broadcasting on the signal conversion front, which
> remains the province of cable companies supplying set-top boxes. Glasgow
> said, "We don't have a set-top box strategy."
> 
> Glasgow also outlined a four-part growth strategy for Sony Electronics
> in the U.S., including more cost cutting, seeking acquisitions and
> partnerships, developing a multichannel retail strategy that integrated
> brick-and-mortar and online and greater collaboration among various Sony
> business units.
> 
> Glasgow said Sony Electronics' aim was to achieve double-digit growth in
> the U.S, driven by products such as HDTV, camcorders and digital
> cameras. While parent company Sony Corp. also cited those sectors as
> growth drivers, the parent company also warned of a decline in operating
> profits at many of its divisions in the coming fiscal year.
> 
> All material on this site Copyright 2006 CMP Media LLC. All rights
> reserved.
>  
>  
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
> 
> - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
> FreeLists.org 
> 
> - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
> unsubscribe in the subject line.
> 
> 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: