Understanding who builds what in LCD Flat Panels

Posted by DavidLD (A) on March 29, 2008 at 05:40:09

I have been trying to get a better feel for who builds what among the LCD flat panels, particularly the cheaper ones selling under odd names at the big box and discount stores or names I know from companies that long ago went bankrupt. Some of these companies have really cheesy Web sites that look like they were done by a college freshman computer student.

Here is what I have learned so far.

Polaroid. The brand name is now owned by a much bigger company but privately held called Petters group International. They do still have a small division that makes instant cameras and film. But another division does sell LCD flat panels. I've seen Polaroid panel TVs at Wal-Mart and Circuit City, among others.
www.polaroid.com

Broksonic. These show up at hhgregg electronics stores. The Web site here looks really amateurish, and gives an address of HATZLACHH SUPPLY INC.
935 Broadway New York, NY 10010-6061. There are some forms for sending them email to tell them about your TV troubles at www.broksonic.com

Westinghouse. Best Buy, among others, stocks the Westinghouse brand Interestingly, this seems to be one of the companies that looks quite solid and they have a professional looking Web site at www.westinghouse.com. Indeed, the company still sells light bulbs, air conditioning units and has a consumer electronics division that sells inexpensive flat panel sets of all sizes. From what I read, these TVs are generally pretty well liked by customers.

Element. These appear to almost be the Circuit City "house" brand, designed to compete against the Best Buy Insignia brand. This is another Petters Group brand which means that Element TV sets and Polaroid sets are likely closely related if not identical other than the labeling.

Insignia. This is the Best Buy "house" brand. Having just bought one of these as a secondary set I have been interested in tracking down who the actual maker might be, but since Best Buy is the only seller, addresses track back to contact "Best Buy". The general belief is that Best Buy might change suppliers from one year to the next. A writer on one of the forums claims LG actually makes the panels for the current Insignia models. The one I bought is made in China. There is actually a separate Web site for all Best Buy Insignia branded stuff with a lot of information on both current and older stuff at
http://www.insignia-products.com

Dynex. Another brand at Best Buy but these are a total mystery. Whether they are closely related to the Insignias is unknown. I have yet to find a Web site for them.

Vizio. Claims to be headquartered in Irvine CA but the product I think is all made in China. Vizio is among the best known of the "new" budget models with product in most stores that sell flat panels, Sears, Wal Mart, Circuit City Etc. Consumer Reports generally likes their product very much. Their very professional looking web site is www.vizio.com

Olevia.I believe Olevia is Chinese owned/headquartered. Their Web Site does not indicate, however.They have engaged in some national TV advertizing Consumer Reports has typically liked their product as well.
www.olevia.com

LG is what the old Korean headquartered "Goldstar" became.

Samsung is the best known Korean headquartered firm.

Sony and Samsung have such close ties currently that its not entirely clear as to what is Sony product and what is rebranded Samsung product bearing the Sony brand name (or vice versa).

Any panel with the RCA brand name on it is made by the Chinese headquartered TV maker who bought rights to the RCA brand name for TVs a number of years ago. Technically, Thomson still owns the brand name and licenses it to third party manufacturers for specific products. Not a clue on the RCA Web site about the chinese ownership of the TV brand

Philips owns the Magnavox brand name and uses that brand name on their less expensive lines, probably farming out production to China. www.magnavox.com According to that site, plan to see Magnavox at discount stores such as KMart and Costco.

Matsushita (Panasonic and JVC) has a manufacturing plant in Mexico, where the Panasonic flat panel I bought recently was built. Matsushita now has close ties with both Sharp and Hitachi. Who builds what is less than clear but the three companies are sharing technologies and manufacturing and selling parts back and forth to each other, much like Sony and Samsung are currently doing.

I would recommend that if you are considering a budget flat panel from one of the less familiar names that you first take a look at the company Web site for a clue as to whether the company has any substance.

I hope all of you find this info useful, and if anyone has any more or corrected information or brands to add to this story let me know

David

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Topic - Understanding who builds what in LCD Flat Panels - DavidLD 05:40:09 03/29/08 (2)

RE: Understanding who builds what in LCD Flat Panels - 4season 15:13:27 03/29/08 (1)

RE: Understanding who builds what in LCD Flat Panels - Tom §. 19:55:37 04/10/08 (0)

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