NXP Semiconductors and Thomson have merged their older discrete tuner devices in an attempt to get out of analog TV tuners, and concentrate on digital transistor based tuning.
This week they announced a Memorandum of Understanding to combine what are referred to as their can tuner module operations. A can tuner is the wired, tin covered, large, power hungry device in analog TVs which remain tuned to a single channel, which have been in market decline since about 2005.
A definitive joint venture agreement will be finalized in the second quarter, leaving this company to spiral slowly out of existence. Somehow we think that this business should have gone some time ago for both companies, but despite Thomson getting right out of analog TV manufacture, it still has these legacy systems lurking about, probably quite cash effective, if not strategic.
The move will allow NXP in particular to focus on digital TV, set top and silicon tuner activities where the bulk markets are in DVB-S2, DVB-T, DVB-H and DVB-C.