Sharp TV models in 2017

In the mid-2010s, Sharp Corporation’s television business underwent significant changes. Due to financial difficulties, the company began restructuring its divisions, including television manufacturing. As a result, the rights to use the brand in different regions were transferred to other companies under license.

The situation with Sharp TVs in Europe

On the European market, the Sharp brand for TVs was transferred to the Slovak company Universal Media Corporation (UMC). The company obtained the right to manufacture and sell TVs under the Sharp brand in Europe, and also acquired Sharp’s TV manufacturing plant in Poland. In fact, Sharp TVs sold in Europe began to be assembled by UMC from Chinese components, although the brand itself remained Japanese.

In 2016, the Japanese company Sharp was acquired by the Taiwanese corporation Foxconn. The new management of the company began to gradually regain control over the television business.

In 2017, Sharp acquired a controlling stake in UMC, thereby regaining control of the brand. During this transition period, virtually no new TV models appeared on the European market. Most of the models on sale were from the previous year, and marketing support for the brand was minimal, all due to the restructuring of the business.

Sharp TVs in the US market

The situation was different in the North American market. The rights to manufacture and sell Sharp-branded TVs were transferred to the Chinese company Hisense. Since 2015, this company has been manufacturing Sharp TVs for the US.

Unlike in Europe, the brand was used much more actively. However, negotiations were also underway to return the Hisense brand to Sharp.

List of Sharp TVs in 2017