[opendtv] New Sony COO bullish on Blu-ray
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 10:53:35 -0400
"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.
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.
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