Is a new, cheaper Sony LCD TV line in the works?

Could a cheaper Sony “B-series” line, priced below this L-series model, be in the works?
[Image courtesy of Sony]

According to a report on the DigiTimes website, Sony is developing an inexpensive "B-series" LCD TV line designed to compete with lower-cost competitors, such as Vizio.

The website says the new B-series line will include lower-priced 40- and 32-inch sets, which could spur price cuts by Sony's competitors. The line—which, if true, would likely consist of 720p sets—is reportedly being made for Sony by Taiwanese manufacturers to help reduce costs, enabling lower retail prices. For example, the 32-inch set is said to sell for $460, or perhaps even less.

The DigiTimes article incorrectly states that Sony's current entry-level TV line is the S series; actually, the company sells an even lower-priced L-series lineup of 720p sets, which range in price from $400 for a 22-inch set to $700 for a 37-inch model. The S series is Sony's entry-level 1080p line, which starts at $700 for a 32-inch set.

However, a Sony spokesman said he was unfamiliar with any 2010 TV models that resemble the claims. Guess we'll just have to wait for the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show this January to see whether the reports are fact or fiction. —James K. Willcox