Panasonic full HDTV lifespan now over 42 years

Panasonic has published impressive lifespan statistics for its latest range of 1080p plasma HDTVs. The company reckons that on average they will play for 100,000 hours before reaching half brightness. This equates to 42 years based on an average viewing time of six and a half hours a day.

Panasonic’s 720p plasmas will play for 60,000 hours, providing 25 years of viewing, before the display degrades to 50%. Even at half-brightness, the sets will still provide clear, crisp colourful high definition images, according to Dr. Paul F, Liao, Panasonic’s chief technology officer.

While the long-life of these sets will bolster Panasonic’s focus on environmental concerns, in does seems extremely unlikely that today’s owners of Panasonic full HD sets will still be watching them in 42 years time.

After all, 42 years ago we were watching live broadcasts of Z-cars, in black and white on a transistor set housed in a walnut cabinet!