Sony to end the S-LCD partnership with Samsung

Sony and Samsung have been operating an LCD joint venture since 2004 called S-LCD. At this point Samsung holds 51-percent of the joint venture with Sony having 49-percent of S-LCD. Sony has not been doing well in the TV realm of late with loses in the segment that continue to increase. As a result of the mounting losses, Sony is said to be considering pulling out of the joint venture.

Sources are saying that if Sony does give up on the S-LCD venture that it would benefit the other large makers of LCD panels including CMI and AUO. Sources claim that Sony and Samsung are in talks about Sony stepping out of the venture and that the agreement for Sony exit will be complete by the end of 2011. Sony losses total $6 billion since the S-LCD venture was started.