Philips pulls out of US HDTV market....sort of

[soundboy]

Funai has purchased the rights to use the Philips and Magnavox brands for the next 5 years....

See cnet.com article (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9914064-7.html)

[Andrew T.]

Uh oh!

[Taurus]

"Use" them? :confused:

[soundboy]

"Use" them? :confused:

Yes, slap "Philips" or "Magnavox" labels onto Funai-produced HDTVs.

[rauer]

Philips has long ago become a brand that'll never again enter this household. I wonder if Funai is a change for the better, though.

[chargrove]

I would never say never to a brand improving their electronics products (see Samsung), but for now I wouldn't buy anything made by Funai. They also make Emerson.

[Pasquale the K]

A Brand name used to mean something, now it's another asset: bought, sold, licensed or leased just like a factory or an office. I can sort of understand why a defunct or nearly defunct company (Zenith or Polaroid) would sell its name but I can't comprehend why a real business like Philips or GE would license its name to some rich Chinese factory owner who in all likelihood will simply dilute the brand image forever....

[JohnG]

Philips used to run a great plasma TV ad around these parts a few years ago. They had a good-looking European Italian couple watching the TV on the ceiling of their expensive apartment.

Made you think that they're TVs are pretty good.

[soundboy]

A Brand name used to mean something, now it's another asset: bought, sold, licensed or leased just like a factory or an office. I can sort of understand why a defunct or nearly defunct company (Zenith or Polaroid) would sell its name but I can't comprehend why a real business like Philips or GE would license its name to some rich Chinese factory owner who in all likelihood will simply dilute the brand image forever....

GE sold off its brand to consumer electronics a long time ago when France's Thomson Electronics purchased it along with the RCA brand.

[Rachael Bee]

I pulled out of the Philips' market many years ago. The only thang I ever owned from them worth a damn was my 212 Electronic turntable.....but I got that in 1971.

[apileocole]

I say all these outsourcing megacorporations should quit all the contentious competition business and all join the family, see?*

*to be read with accent appropriate for The Godfather :winkgrin:

[Taurus]

Yes, slap "Philips" or "Magnavox" labels onto Funai-produced HDTVs.:shake: I wonder why Philips would take a chance on damaging their name, something that takes years to build?

Corporations can act SO weird nowadays.

[Taurus]

GE sold off its brand to consumer electronics a long time ago when France's Thomson Electronics purchased it along with the RCA brand."Audiovox Completes Acquisition of Thomson's Consumer Electronics Audio Video Business" (http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS142680+03-Jan-2008+PRN20080103)

Excerpt (bolded part is my own emphasis):HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX) announced today that on December 31, 2007, it completed its acquisition of Thomson's Consumer Electronics Audio Video Business outside of Europe, including the worldwide rights to the RCA brand for consumer electronics audio video product lines except TVs and certain additional product categories.Why leave their TV model line untouched? :confused:

I'm still wondering what Audiovox is going to do with the Acoustic Research and especially the Advent brands they bought three years ago.

[rauer]

I wonder why Philips would take a chance on damaging their name, something that takes years to build?

I think the image of the brand can only improve. After all, IME it is a brand with
bad quality control and abysmal customer service.

[ShawnMcCann]

I think the image of the brand can only improve. After all, IME it is a brand with
bad quality control and abysmal customer service.

Didn't realize there was a problem with the Philips brand image.

I have few Philips DVD players around the house. One is region free and plays divx discs; $50 new a couple of years ago. The other two are combo VCR/DVD units ($80 each) hooked up to 13" standard def TVs in the workshop and the bedroom. For casual use they are just fine.

[Rachael Bee]

I'm still wondering what Audiovox is going to do with the Acoustic Research and especially the Advent brands they bought three years ago.

About 3-4 years ago, I saw the Advent name on cheap TV's at Busted Buy.

[tps]

Will they also be using the Philips tag line "Let's make things better"?