What's the Future of Flatscreens?

THE flatscreen market is changing shape as rear-projection models take a back seat to LCD and plasma screens.

In a move that reflects the future of the flat-screen market, manufacturer Seiko Epson has pulled out of the rear-projection TV market.

Seiko Epson said it had halted production and sales of its rear-projection TVs, becoming the latest company to distance itself from a technology once seen as a promising rival of LCD and plasma televisions.

Seiko Epson will focus resources on front projectors, but it is not withdrawing from the rear-projection TV business and will continue its research and development activities for rear-projection models, a company spokesman announced.

Demand for rear-projection TVs, which were once dominant in the large-sized flat TV market, has been dwindling as electronics makers in recent years started offering larger and cheaper LCD and plasma models.

Seiko Epson said it had aimed to sell about 11,000 units of rear-projection TVs in its first year of operations, though it did not give actual sales figures. The company started selling rear-projection TVs in 2004.