TV Makers Scoff at Your Puny Recession

Say buyers will continue snapping up flat panels; investors not so sure
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:04 PM CST
TV Makers Scoff at Your Puny Recession
Visitors walk by Sony's Bravia flat panel TV screens on display at the Sony Plaza in Tokyo in this July 26, 2007 file photo. At least three dueling wireless technologies for high-definition TVs will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which starts Monday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayshi,...   (Associated Press)

Who cares if there’s a recession? The Super Bowl’s on! Even after the worst retailing Christmas in years, the makers of flat-panel, high-definition TVs are confident their trendy product will keep selling, spurred by falling prices and prime tube-watching events like the Olympics. One market-research firm is predicting LCD sales will jump 27% worldwide.

But investors don’t share their optimism, which is why companies like Sony and Sharp have seen steep stock drops lately, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bears note that Best Buy and Circuit City both had disappointing holiday seasons. Analysts counter that the culprit is competition from discounters like Wal-Mart, where big TVs still fly off the shelves. (More recession stories.)

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