Blockbuster In Talks To Take stake in New Premium CableCo; Wants Digital Rights: Report

So Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) is desperate for a deal, any deal, any which way: after its strange proposal to buy CircuitCity (which will have a tough time going through) comes the news that it is in talks about taking a stake in the new Viacom-led premium TV channel that we reported on last weekend. Under the deal being discussed, Blockbuster would get digital rights to the new channel's programming in return for an investment in the partnership.


By Rafat Ali
Copyright © 2008 paidContent.org

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LG enters thin-TV race with Scarlet sets

LG Electronics has officially thrown its hat into the thin TV ring with the launch this week of its Scarlet TV set. The TV, which was first unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January in Las Vegas, is LG's thinnest flat-panel TV yet.

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Shareholders OK Macrovision takeover of Gemstar-TV Guide

Shareholders of Macrovision Corp. and Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. have approved Macrovision's takeover of Gemstar for about $2.3 billion in cash and stock, the companies said Tuesday.

The deal calls for Macrovision to pay $6.35 per share, or 0.2548 Macrovision shares for every one Gemstar share.

Gemstar stock closed at $5.98 on Dec. 6, the day before the deal was announced.

The companies expected the deal to close Friday.

Gemstar-TV Guide said in a statement that more than 90 percent of its shareholders approved the takeover, while Macrovision said its shareholders also gave the go-ahead.

The result was widely expected since News Corp., which owns 41 percent of Gemstar shares, had agreed to approve the buyout.


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LCD TVs now outselling CRTs

The market research firm said that fourth-quarter 2007 LCD TV shipments hit 28.5 million units, taking 47 per cent of total TV shipments during the quarter and surpassing the 46 per cent share for CRTs.

Global TV shipments grew 21 per cent quarter on quarter, and five per cent year on year, to 60.8 million units in the fourth quarter.

Total shipments reached almost 200 million units worldwide in 2007, and revenues exceeded $100bn for the first time.

LCD penetration was highest in developed regions, reaching 86 per cent in Japan, 84 per cent in Western Europe and 78 per cent in the US.

However, the strongest unit growth was in developing regions, such as Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa, which rose 106 per cent year on year.


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Commentary: How smaller players may affect LCD TV pricing in Japan

While Japanese consumers are typically considered willing to pay more for products bearing trusted brand names, perhaps less known LCD TV vendors may still end up having an affect on pricing in the Japan market.

In general, the most successful LCD TV brands are those that have the backing of their own LCD panel production lines, so brands such as Sharp, Samsung, Sony, Philips and LG Electronics are global leaders. In Japan, trusted brands, such as Toshiba, can also leverage the quality of its chip designs and brand recognition to maintain market share, with Toshiba claiming 20% of the local LCD TV market.

However, having the backing of vertical integration is not the only way to succeed in the global LCD TV market. Taiwan-based Amtran Technology, a Top-3 branded LCD TV vendor in North America, is a good example of a company that is succeeding despite having no panel making capabilities or IP advantage.


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China and US expected to fuel LCD TV sales growth - 21st February 2008

Demand for flat panel televisions will surge in the next four to five years, it has been predicted.

According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Association (JEITA), demand for flat panel televisions will double to 180 million units by 2012.

This augmentation will largely be as a result of strong sales in China and the United States, the Japanese industry group said.

Demand for liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs is expected to rise to 155 million units over the period in question, up from the 74.8 million sold in 2007.

Meanwhile, demand for plasma TVs is likely to augment to 25 million units in 2012 from 11.4 million last year.

A JEITA spokesperson suggested that, although the forecasts are based only on expected demand from 51 nations, as the major countries are included in the study the predictions should prove representative of global demand, Reuters reports.



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Sony’s LCD Deal Could Deal Blow to Samsung

A joint venture for TV liquid display panels between Samsung Electronics and Sony is showing signs of wear, as the Japanese company will begin procuring LCD panels from Sharp.

The Japanese business daily Nihon Keizai said Saturday that Sony is in the final stages of talks with Sharp to buy LCD panels. Sony has gotten its LCDs from Samsung and S-LCD, a joint venture between the two firms.

Sony is considering buying 10th-generation panels between 60 and 70 inches to be produced at Sharp�s factories in Osaka from next year.

Japanese media also say Sony is considering buying as early as this year panels of 40 to 50 inches that Sharp manufactures in its factories in Mie Prefecture.

Sony has procured 60-70 percent of its LCDs from S-LCD and Samsung and the rest from Taiwanese makers.


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