Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Sony Will Eliminate 20,000 Jobs

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-29-2003, 08:58 AM:

From today's Hollywood Reporter:

Hollywood Reporter October 29, 2003

quote:
Oct. 29, 2003

Sony will eliminate 20,000 jobs

Sony Corp. on Tuesday announced plans to cut 20,000 employees during the next three years as part of a broad reorganization and cost-cutting strategy. The move, which will eliminate more than 10% of Sony's worldwide work force, was expected (HR 10/21). The Tokyo-based conglomerate gave few details beyond the fact that 7,000 of those positions will be in Japan. No specific cuts were detailed for Sony Pictures Entertainment, where it has already been confirmed that some 300 cuts will be made during the next 18 months (HR 10/16). Analysts and sources said last week, though, that SPE should escape much of the cutbacks since it is already making reductions. (Marla Matzer Rose)

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 10-29-2003, 10:02 AM:

Per the NY Times it's part of a phasing out of conventional television production in favor of flat screens, which will be produced jointly with Samsung, and the decision to move all "consumer level" manufacturing to China, with only hi-tech stuff in Japan. Supposedly this deal will make Samsung the largest producer of Plasma screens over time. Interestingly, another article in the same paper had a lucid comparison of CRT's, Rear Projection, LCD's, and Plasma, with the conclusion that LCD's will catch up with Plasma "size-wise" over the next 2-4 years, and will displace Plasma as the flat screen of choice. The article cited difficulties with Plasma including power consumption, heat, the ability to "burn", and a gradual deterioration in light output--none of which LCD supposedly suffers from. Interesting.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-29-2003, 11:09 AM:

I heard about this from a video game forum a few days ago. I've never seen good come out of moving manufacturing of products to a cheaper country. It makes me trust the products less and proves that all Sony cares about is the bottom line.

Woa! I just had a thought (my first!). With Sony moving their consumer manufacturing to China, things may actually improve! You see, any current Sony product with moving parts fails rather rapidly and repeatedly in order to get you to purchase many replacements (witness Sony Playstation 1 and 2 or anything else Sony has ever made). Maybe China can do a better job than Japan. Sony gives Japan a bad name.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-29-2003, 11:36 AM:

Jeff Taylor wrote:

quote:
Interestingly, another article in the same paper had a lucid comparison of CRT's, Rear Projection, LCD's, and Plasma, with the conclusion that LCD's will catch up with Plasma "size-wise" over the next 2-4 years, and will displace Plasma as the flat screen of choice. The article cited difficulties with Plasma including power consumption, heat, the ability to "burn", and a gradual deterioration in light output--none of which LCD supposedly suffers from.

Kodak's NuVue Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays offer significant advantages for the future:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/display/index.jhtml

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/display/overview.jhtml

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-29-2003, 11:49 AM:

Plasma screens, as amazing as they are technically, are not suitable for general consumer use for all the reasons noted. $3000 and up for an EDTV monitor that has all those other "issues" like burn, heat, etc. and can't do satisfactory blacks? [thumbsdown]

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 10-29-2003, 03:29 PM:

Last Christmas I looked at the price of plasma, and opted for a 57" HD Hitachi rear projection which I love. Unfortunately, my wife then went out and bought a $3500 wall unit to surround it. Guess what...back to the price of plasma and then some. Anyhow, I recently picked up two LCD's, a 15" flat conventional and a 17" wide HD. Talk about terrific. I can see they have an amazing future.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-29-2003, 04:25 PM:

Could this mean that Sony will not support SDDS any longer?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-29-2003, 04:30 PM:

You mean they support it now?

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 10-29-2003, 04:31 PM:

No, I was trying to make a joke.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-29-2003, 05:06 PM:

What's the latest on HiFED technology? Some electronics industry people believe that process has a good shot at upending plasma-based displays.