The trouble is there is almost no profit at all in TV's these days (and for most of the last decade too). It is too prestigious and therefore competitive as the

The trouble is there is almost no profit at all in TV's these days (and for most of the last decade too). It is too prestigious and therefore competitive as there is still the impression that it is the key part of becoming a major consumer electronics player (I think it is probably wrong these days and mobile phone/tablets may be more important). Differentiation of TVs is hard because features appeal to niche's of the total market and basic picture quality is now good on most products and MOST people can't recognise a good picture if they see it. Sony has also suffered badly along with Panasonic from the strength of the Yen. A great deal of the cost base is still in Japan even when manufacture is outsourced into local markets which destroys any real possibilities of profit. I don't know what the effect of making the TV arm it's own subsidiary will be, (it may be mostly to allow profits to be shown in the rest of electronics), but I really don't know what the best thing to do with it would be. I'm not sure it makes commercial sense to make TV's in its own terms but it is doubtful whether Sony could sustain franchised retail chains without TVs so it may affect the total business if they withdrew completely. It would also be a shame as the products are good and there are many good people there but I just can't see a future of long term profitability. Ex Sony TV Product Planner/Biz Dev (Europe)