Sony & TCL Merger

[Judge]

Still mind-blowing to hear that it's no rumor any more.

That TCL is negotiating a partnership with Sony regarding their television technology. A merger that would leave TCL as having 51% controlling interest. It's been interesting to see how rapidly TCL has gained in the marketplace with increases in quality and functionality at a reasonable price.

Imagine if such a partnership results in higher quality assurance, superior technology and all at a more reasonable price. Potentially leaving their competition in the dust, short of companies like LG and Samsung willing to lower the retail cost of their products.

Looks like TCL has also surpassed competitor Hisense when it comes to quality assurance right out of the box. Particularly with their higher tier of televisions which still are considerably lower than Sony, Samsung and LG.

How often does something like this happen that actually may benefit consumers ?

Sony Corporation - Sony and TCL Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Partnership in Home Entertainment Field

 

[cooljethro]

I'd never heard of TCL, until reading this thread.

I have come across a few Hisense electrical products though, and they seem of good quality/reliable/of good value.

I have always thought of Sony as having premium producuts, whether true in reality, or not.

 

[Judge]

I have always thought of Sony as having premium products, whether true in reality, or not.

With widescreen televisions, they are at the top of their game in terms of quality and functionality. However their pricing has always been beyond what many consumers are willing to pay for. If they can adopt TCL's parts and assembly infrastructure they may come to a very happy medium with us consumers.

Either way I see TCL continuing to improve in quality assurance. Beyond that of Hisense.

 

[Outdated]

I'd never heard of TCL, until reading this thread.

Same.

I have come across a few Hisense electrical products though, and they seem of good quality/reliable/of good value.

Very common brand of white goods in Australia but they have a mixed reputation - very good products and very cheap but poor quality control. So if you get a good one then it's really good and will last you for years but there's also a fair chance that you'll get a lemon. Retailers are used to that here though so if you return a product they just replace it without question.

I have always thought of Sony as having premium producuts, whether true in reality, or not.

Sony have a poor reputation in Australia, not because of poor quality products but because of their highly restrictive licensing issues. This especially affects their TVs, they're quite restrictive in what formats and what image sizes they can play etc where as a cheap Chinese no name brand will play anything.

Aussies tend to lump 3 brands in the one basket to be avoided for that reason - Microsoft, Sony and Logitech.