Why Sony finally let go of TVs

Sony Group has decided to spin off its TV business and place it into a joint venture controlled by TCL, marking the company’s formal retreat from a segment that once defined Japan’s consumer-electronics prowess. The move underscores Sony’s strategic pivot toward higher-margin businesses—gaming, music, and film—while reflecting a broader, decades-long withdrawal by Japanese firms from mass-market home appliances.

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Commentary: In Bravia’s handover, can TCL keep Sony’s premium promise?

Sony Corporation and TCL Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture that will take over Sony’s home entertainment business, including TV and audio product R&D, manufacturing, operations, and after-sales services. The new entity is expected to begin operations as early as April 2027, effectively placing the future of the Bravia brand under TCL’s operational control.

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Humanoid robot installations rise sharply in 2025, Chinese firms lead market ahead of Tesla

The humanoid robot industry experienced notable commercial growth in 2025, with an annual increase of 16,000 new units installed worldwide, according to reports from multiple research agencies. The sector remains dominated by Chinese manufacturers, who captured the majority of global market share alongside a single leading American firm.

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GlobalWafers chair sees Taiwan’s semiconductor edge, says AI is irreversible

On January 21, 2026, GlobalWafers chairwoman Doris Hsu spoke to the media about the recent US-Taiwan tariff agreement, which lowers Taiwan’s reciprocal tariffs to 15% without stacking most-favored-nation (MFN) rates. This makes Taiwan the first country to secure tariff relief under Section 232. Both sides also plan to expand supply chain investment cooperation. Hsu called this a very positive outcome for Taiwan’s overall industry and said it has eased market concerns.

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GlobalWafers eyes quarterly revenue growth in 2026; chair sees better market than last year

GlobalWafers chairman Doris Hsu told the media on January 21, 2026, that the company’s global expansion plans are starting to pay off, with subsidiaries in Niigata and Utsunomiya, Japan, as well as Denmark, all hitting record revenues in 2025. Niche products like gallium nitride (GaN) stood out for their strong performance. Hsu also outlined GlobalWafers’ 2026 strategy and shared her outlook on market conditions.

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Chinese AI chipmakers face mixed reactions to Nvidia H200 block

The US has confirmed that under a new set of stringent regulations, Nvidia’s H200 is permitted to be exported to the Chinese market, and Chinese customers have expressed strong demand. However, the Chinese government has shown no intention of granting approval, causing supply chain plans that were originally preparing to ship to be put on hold. Currently, the main obstacle to entering the Chinese market is the mindset of the Chinese authorities. From the Chinese government’s perspective, since domestic AI chips are already usable, there is no need to further allow China’s AI development to rely more heavily on the US and Nvidia.

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