Hitachi to stop making TVs in Japan, but source it from other countries

Hitachi Wooo

I watched that report on NHK Newsline. It said that Japanese high-tech giant, Hitachi, will stop making televisions at the end of September 2012 because of the Yen's uncontrollably strength. Well, that was said from Hitachi spokeswoman, Sayori Nishino, but Hitachi outsourced overseas TV manufacturing to foreign firms three years ago.

Source: AFP

TOKYO — Japanese high-tech giant Hitachi said it will stop making televisions by the end of September as intense price competition hurts TV earnings at many electronics manufacturers worldwide.

Hitachi will "terminate television production by the end of September" in Japan, said Sayori Nishino, a company spokeswoman, having already outsourced overseas TV manufacturing to foreign firms in 2009.

But it will still sell televisions branded with its "Wooo" logo made by contractors.

For Japanese manufacturers in various sectors the surging yen has weighed on sales in foreign markets by making Japan-made products more expensive, as well as reducing the value of repatriated earnings.

Ratings agency Moody's last week downgraded both Sony and Panasonic, citing losses in the two firms' TV divisions, among other factors.

Television manufacturers around the world have been badly hit by rampant competition and minuscule margins, making profits difficult to squeeze out with consumers increasingly unwilling to shell out sky-high prices for sets. 

My Top Gear USA first impressions

It was cold Sunday night in Seattle, WA, when I flickered the remote to the History Channel just to watch the pilot episode of the North American version of the hit BBC car magazine show, Top Gear.

The first episode of Top Gear US came out on a good start. There was a challenge between a Dodge Viper and a Cobra attack chopper, a segment called "Big Star, Small Car" invites former astronaut Buzz Aldrin to drive the Suzuki SX4 crossover, and a challenge of the three bulls, that is, three raging Lambos; the Gallardo SuperLeggera, the special edition Gallardo Balboni, and the raging fast Murcielago Super Veloce.

Adam Ferrera, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood are the American versions of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Oh, and by the way, The Stig also shows up in Top Gear US. The Stig looks more original to the original UK version.

I'm impressed how the North American version of Top Gear turned out to be. Expect see more of them!

Official Top Gear America site:

http://www.history.com/topgear

Something's odd....

Every time when I switched the TV on to watch Hole In The Wall Season 2 on GMA, it shuffles me to some question why Ogie Alcasid often keeps his Kim Min-Yung role while Michael V switching roles week by week from Bianca, Min-Yung's die-hard fan, from week one, then he became as Kim Min-Yung's mom from week 2, and for this week, um, I think he dressed like Kim Min-Yung, only different, I wonder....

And if someone realized that did Bubble Gang made some sketch involved in fan service, hmmm, if you rewind your minds back at the May 21 episode (there was a Jejemon sketch) and if you saw the "Clothes Out" sketch, I think this is fan service.

Also, did you stay all afternoon long to see Banana Split Daily Servings? There is a mini-drama with the title so gross, you'll end up laughing and crying. It's titled "Ang Babaeng Hindi Maitaas Ang Kili-kili" (The girl who can't raise her underarm) and it makes me laugh and cry on Banana Split's mini-drama involving on the heroine named Josephina (Nina Jose) who struggles to fit in as the girl who can't raise her underarm. At first, we find out that whoever saw her shining underarm will end up being out of control, or even killing themselves, later, that shining part on her underarm was a monster inside Josephina vowing revenge on the death of Josephina's father who was killed by the cops, including her childhood friend Tonyo (Zanjoe Marudo), also, she was targeted by the enemies who can't show their bellies. Now, it seems that the underarm that made everyone idiots became a miracle. Whoever swallows the sweat of Josephina's underarm will cure themselves. Hmmm... scary but funny at first, and miraculous at later.

Oh well, an apple a day "melf me all da way" ROFL.

About Last Friday....

Last Friday's episode of Bubble Gang was a huge laugh-out with some gag who's pervert and slap it on his/her face, a doctor consulting with the high-blood patient, unlucky man, a drawing gets personal, TV shopping, recognized people, millionaire's club, killer surgeon, some pretty boy, and get this, another one of Yaya and Angelina's misfits in "Ang Spoiled". In this episode, Yaya babysits a baby while the baby's mother is away.

That's right. She said it all, "YOU'RE SUCH A LOSER!" LOL

Gotten myself jolly seeing these two appeared again on Bubble Gang!

WEE!!

What is Party Pilipinas truly means for me...

Back in 1997, GMA aired a noon-time party that comes in Sundays known as SOP (an acronym of Sobrang Okey Pare) to compete with the long-running ASAP of ABS-CBN. I think both of these shows were enjoyable but it depends on which channel you are on.

But suddenly, due to the show's very bad ratings cannot compete the ratings of ABS-CBN's ASAP (now ASAP XV, commemorating its 15th year), 2010 would be the end of GMA's Sunday afternoon party show. Sure, it broke my heart for realizing it.

Makes me wonder how SOP got discontinued after 13 years of non-stop enjoyment with our favorite Kapuso stars, especially Regine Velasquez, Jaya, Ogie Alcasid, and Janno Gibbs.

The final concert truly saddens every Kapuso fans from across the world, but leaves us a decent smiley face. Makes me wonder how did that happened....

March 2010 saw a revision for GMA's Sunday afternoon party as SOP hosts; Regine, Jaya, Ogie, and Janno reprising their hosting talents to the newest Sunday afternoon party known as PARTY PILIPINAS.

HEHE, gotta admit that the theme song is great. Anyway, as for a fan of Pinoy television, I think Party Pilipinas can be a decent successor of SOP with new staff, new surprises and the same hosts. 

That's right, same hosts (Regine Velasquez, Jaya, Ogie Alcasid, and Janno Gibbs) do the party in this new Sunday afternoon party, with chunks of artists welcomed to this show including Mark Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go. This is odd because both of these were from ASAP, but why did they are switched sides?

There are so many newbies in the new show, including the Pinoy boy-band called XLR8 and the all-girl group known as Eurasia.

Looks OK to me, but is it cool or plain if you ask yourself?