Sony banks on picture quality for TV vs. YouTube

Sony remains confident and unshaken amid all the surveys and claims that video consumption in the Internet has defeated television watching.

Only recently, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt claimed that Internet video, particularly YouTube, has displaced TV watching, even long before he shared the comment to the media. "That's already happened," he said.

However, in an interview with Philstar.com, Yasushi Asaoka, President and Managing Director of Sony Philippines, confirmed that more people are now watching video online but stressed that Sony is banking on its latest picture quality innovations.

Asaoka said Sony's new range of BRAVIA models combine the latest technologies available only on Sony televisions

The executive said Sony's latest color revolution called Triluminos Display provides a heightened sense of depth to images, showcasing colors, reproducing natural shades for a more vivid, richer and more intense range.  

"Resolution, motion, and functionality have all improved the quality of viewing, but the 4K resolution display with the 4K X-Reality Pro and Triluminos Display will change the game in delivering depth of color," Asaoka said.

Among Sony's new television lines launched are the Sony X9004A, W954A, W904A, W804A, W704A, W654A, 674A, and the R550A.

The Sony X9004A features both Triluminos Display and the 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine. The W954A/904A, uses Triluminos and the X-Reality Pro.

And as for the W804A/704A/654A/674A all run on X-Reality Pro, while the R550A with the Clear Resolution Enhancer.

Asaoka explained the 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine shows more natural detail and sharpness four times that of a full HD TV, as pictures from any source are analyzed, cleaned and refined.

Larry Secreto, Director for Sales and Marketing of Sony Philippines, said TV is far from being outdated, serving as the second or third household appliance product next to the refrigerator.

"Here in the Philippines, especially in the provinces, the first thing people have in mind when it comes to household products is to buy TV," Secreto said. "In fact the demand for TV is growing 20 percent every year and sales for LCD TV nowadays is growing a lot."  

Secreto said TV watching remains popular as the source for basic entertainment for most households brought about by the infinite content for TV series and the stiff competition among cable TV companies.