Originally founded in 2010, the HDBaseT Alliance – a group of companies supporting a whole-house connectivity solution widely viewed as an alternative to HDMI – announced today that it has doubled in size in less than a year and now boasts over 60 member companies. We reported on the addition of Pioneer and Onkyo at this past Consumer Electronics Show, and the organization continues to add new members.
Pioneer
In Wake of Fiscal Year Loss, Pioneer Seeks Business Alliances…and Capital
Pioneer Corp. is seeking to form a business and capital alliance with Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. according to a story today in The Japan Times. The company will also try to enhance its ties with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. “in a bid to survive” in its main car electronics business with a stronger financial footing.
The announcement was made the same day that the company announced their Fiscal 2013 results in which sales came in at ¥451.8 billion ($4.4 billion), up 3.5% over ¥436.8 billion. But more importantly, the company announced a big loss of ¥19.6 billion ($191.6 million)…much worse than the profit of ¥3.7 billion last year.
See more on why Pioneer needs these new alliances… [Read more…] about In Wake of Fiscal Year Loss, Pioneer Seeks Business Alliances…and Capital
WAVE Continues National Expansion with New Full Service Florida Location

WAVE Electronics (WAVE) announced this week that it has opened a new full service warehouse location in Dania Beach, FL, which is located in the more populous southern part of the state – just north of Miami between Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale. Part of WAVE’s continuing national roll-out, just one month ago the company opened a new full service warehouse in New Jersey. This new Florida location brings their total to 10 locations.
Learn more about the success strategy for this rapidly growing CE distributor… [Read more…] about WAVE Continues National Expansion with New Full Service Florida Location
Pioneer Launches Two New Elite A/V Receivers with Multi-Zone / Multi-Source
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced today two new Elite A/V receivers that offers multi-room and multi-source capabilities and 4K Ultra HD compatibility. The new receivers, the VSX-43 7.1-channel and the VSX-70 7.2-channel receivers are designed to appeal to advanced hobbyists and the custom installation community alike.
See more about these very capable, and very affordable Elite A/V receivers… [Read more…] about Pioneer Launches Two New Elite A/V Receivers with Multi-Zone / Multi-Source
Pioneer Launches Navigation System for Bicycles
Pioneer Corp. announced it has entered a new product category with a navigation device specifically designed for use on a bicycle. The cleverly designed device will be available late this month, the company said at a press announcement on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.
See why bicyclists are going to want to mount this device to their bikes… [Read more…] about Pioneer Launches Navigation System for Bicycles
Pioneer Announces Q3 & 9-Month Losses; Cuts FY2013 Forecast from Profit to Loss
In what is turning out to be a very rough earnings season in Japan, Pioneer Corp. announced yesterday its results for the third quarter and nine-month periods of fiscal year 2013 which ends March 31, 2013. Both Q3 and the 9-month periods showed losses, with the YTD loses increasing substantially to ¥9.8 billion ($105 million) down from a loss of ¥6.6 billion. As a result of this, the company has cut its FY2013 forecast from a profit of a ¥1 billion ($11 million) to a loss of ¥4 billion ($42.8 million)…a surprising ¥5 billion change of fortune.
Due to the company’s deteriorating business, the Board of Directors has ordered a significant restructuring including salary and bonus cuts for executives and employees. The company has also said it will cut jobs.
Why has Pioneer’s business shifted so dramatically? See more details below… [Read more…] about Pioneer Announces Q3 & 9-Month Losses; Cuts FY2013 Forecast from Profit to Loss
HDBaseT Announces at CES 2013 That Onkyo & Pioneer Have Joined Alliance
The HDBaseT Alliance, a consortium of companies developing and supporting a connectivity technology that is viewed by many as an alternative to HDMI, announced at CES 2013 that it continues to build its membership. Consumer A/V brands Onkyo and Pioneer have both joined the group and are expected to add the technology in their products in the near future.
See more on this increasingly powerful consortium… [Read more…] about HDBaseT Announces at CES 2013 That Onkyo & Pioneer Have Joined Alliance
New THIEL CEO Tells Us THIEL’s the Real Deal
“It’s really not that fancy,” new Thiel CEO Bill Thomas told us with a chuckle and a noticeable Southern drawl when we asked about his private equity company that was mentioned in a Thiel press release announcing its acquisition last week. [See our post on the acquisition here…] In a telephone interview with strata-GEE.com earlier this week, the 55-year old Thomas said it was simply he and two friends that came together to purchase Thiel Audio Products Company – not some high-powered M&A company.
This was just one of several surprises the CEO shared with us about the acquisition… [Read more…] about New THIEL CEO Tells Us THIEL’s the Real Deal
Pioneer to Use Contract Manufacturers in Indonesia to Produce Car Sound Systems
The Nikkei reported today that Pioneer Corporation is planning to use contract manufacturers in Indonesia for the production of its automotive sound systems starting next spring. According to the report, the company is “facing a shrinking market for its mainline car navigation equipment.”
See what Pioneer feels they gain by making this move… [Read more…] about Pioneer to Use Contract Manufacturers in Indonesia to Produce Car Sound Systems
After 62 Years, New Jersey’s M. Rothman & Company Sold to Z. Reiss
>BREAKING NEWS<
In news that is likely yet another indicator of the depths of the struggles of the consumer electronics industry, M. Rothman & Company, Inc. – a large consumer electronics distributor based in Ramsey, New Jersey and a one-time powerhouse supplier of a wide variety of electronics and appliances for the entire New York Metropolitan marketplace, has been sold to Z. Reiss & Associates. While rumors have been circulating about Rothman for some weeks – we have only now been able to confirm the company is in fact been sold to another New York-based distributor. [Read more…] about After 62 Years, New Jersey’s M. Rothman & Company Sold to Z. Reiss