The picture looks a lot rosier for Matsushita Electronics, the parent company of plasma TV market leader Panasonic. The electronics manufacturer is very optimistic about the future sales of its plasma TVs, as well as the growth of the plasma display panel (PDP) sector in general.
Panasonic owns the lion’s share of the global plasma TV market, outperforming rival Korean companies LG and Samsung, as well as fellow Japanese manufacturer Pioneer. Other companies taking advantage of the decline in plasma TV prices to increase sales include Dell, Sony and BenQ.
According to Masaaki Fujita, chief of Matsushita’s plasma TV division, the company is expected to sell more than 2 million units worldwide during the 2005-2006 period, no mean feat. The global market, on the other hand, is forecast to hit the six-million-dollar mark, a significant increase from earlier projections.
Fujita made his statement prior to the company’s release of its financial performance report due before the end of July 2005. He emphasized, however, that Matsushita’s expected revenues will show only modest growth because of the continuing decline in plasma TV prices.
Panasonic continues to reap the benefits of the popularity of its plasma TVs, such as models in the ONYX series. Marketing campaigns, including a series of television commercials helmed by Andrew Douglas (director of the movie The Amityville Horror), are utilized extensively to make sure that Panasonic remains the lord of the plasma TV realm.
