Sony to Establish TV Joint Venture with China's TCL, Business Launch Set for April Next Year

According to a report by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on January 20, Sony, the electronics company under Japan's Sony Group, has decided to spin off its TV business and establish a joint venture with Chinese company TCL.

On this day, Sony announced that it had signed a basic agreement with TCL to form a strategic partnership in the home entertainment sector.

In the joint venture that will take over Sony's home entertainment business, including TVs, TCL will hold a 51% stake, while Sony will retain 49%. This share structure indicates that Sony's TV business will effectively become subordinate to TCL.

The two companies plan to engage in further discussions to finalize the contract by the end of March this year, and aim to launch the new entity, which will be responsible for the development, manufacturing, and sales of TVs and home audio products, in April next year.

TCL's booth at the 2026 CES showcasing Chinese electronic products. Photo by Yonhap News

The new company is expected to use Sony's existing TV brands, such as "Sony" and "Bravia."

In a press release, Sony stated, "The new company will leverage Sony's high-definition and high-quality audio technology, brand power, and supply chain, while also utilizing TCL's advanced display technology, global business infrastructure, price competitiveness, and vertically integrated supply chain to drive the business forward."

Nikkei reported, "Sony's TV and home audio business has been shrinking," adding, "According to market research firms, TCL ranks second in the global TV market with a 13.8% share, following Samsung Electronics at 16%, while Sony lags behind at 1.9%, placing it in tenth position."