When Sony announced last month that it intended to pass control of its home entertainment division, including the Bravia television brand, to the Chinese group TCL Electronics, it came as a shock. How could Sony, famed for its sleek, expensive devices, play second fiddle to a Chinese brand?
The question can be asked the other way round: when did TCL, which was founded 45 years ago as an audio tape manufacturer in Guangdong province, turn into a credible joint venture partner for Sony? Along with Hisense, it has established a pretty good reputation for making budget LCD televisions, but Bravia’s high-end halo has been in place for two decades.