Picture tube TVs vanishing

TOKYO, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Industry officials predict picture tube televisions will disappear from the Japanese market next year as sales of flat-screen TVs increase.

The demise of the picture tube TV is being accelerated as the analog broadcast system is eased out in favor of digital television, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association said Friday.

The Beijing Olympics also is prompting more consumers to choose flat-screen TVs over those with picture tubes because of the better viewing, Kyodo News reported Saturday.

Toshiba Corp. recently decided to halt its HD DVD business, making next-generation DVD products available only in one format, Blu-ray, which will increase the demand for those products, Kyodo reported.

Toshiba estimates its domestic sales of DVD recorders and players will increase to 7.60 million units in 2012 from 5.77 million in 2007. Television sales worldwide are estimated to grow from 185.31 million units to 236.12 million with 180 million of them flat-screen TVs.