It’s the end of an era for Sony TVs | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The end of the Sony era in TVsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsThe end of the Sony era in TVsOn The Vergecast: TV tie-ups, chatbot ads, AI hardware, and the future of Racine, Wisconsin.On The Vergecast: TV tie-ups, chatbot ads, AI hardware, and the future of Racine, Wisconsin.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceJan 23, 2026, 3:20 PM UTCLinkShareGiftDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.There aren’t many tech companies that can claim Sony’s level of influence in how we live our lives. From the Walkman to the PlayStation to the Trinitron, Sony has been making excellent gadgets in multiple categories for decades, which makes this week’s news just a little sad. Sony’s new joint venture with TCL isn’t the end of Sony TVs — and it might even be good news — but it’s certainly the end of an era.On this episode of The Vergecast, Nilay and David discuss the Sony / TCL deal, Sony’s legacy in televisions, and what it all might mean for anyone shopping for a new set. The deal isn’t done, and we don’t know all that much about it yet, but it’s already pretty clear what’s in it for both parties.Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here.After that, the hosts wade into the week’s AI news, which all seems to center on a single question: how is anyone supposed to make money from all this technology? OpenAI apparently thinks the answer is ads, because of course it does, because so does everyone else. Apple apparently thinks the answer is hardware, for the same reasons. The hardware discussion leads us to a bigger question about AI gadgets: what is the best form factor for AI? We don’t know. Maybe the answer is none of them. But we rank some ideas anyway.Finally, in the lightning round, it’s time for another installment of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, plus some talk about Netflix’s upcoming mobile redesign, some unimpressive Telly numbers, the Trump Phone, and the latest real estate plans for Nilay’s hometown.

Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | MoreIf you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first in TV news:Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsFrom Spyglass: Make TVs Great AgainAnd in AI news:OpenAI’s 2026 ‘focus’ is ‘practical adoption’ OpenAI releases a cheaper ChatGPT subscription Ads are coming soon to ChatGPT, starting with shopping linksApple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearable Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPTAnd in the lightning round:From The New York Times: FCC Targets Colbert and Kimmel in New Crackdown on Late-Night TVNetflix will revamp its mobile UI this yearFree TV startup Telly only had 35,000 units in people’s homes last fall600,000 Trump Mobile phones sold? There’s no proof.Microsoft wants to build 15 data centers in Mount Pleasant, WisconsinFrom 2020: The 8th wonder of the world*YouTubers will be able to make Shorts with their own AI likenessesFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsOpenAICloseOpenAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All OpenAIPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechTVsCloseTVsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TVsVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularClaude Code is suddenly everywhere inside MicrosoftSony announces its first turntables in yearsEpic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services dealThe state attorneys general are as mad as you areWhy nobody’s stopping GrokVideoThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsSubstack is launching a TV app, and not everyone is happyPlayWhy nobody’s stopping GrokHow BYD beat TeslaPlayGamers will learn to love AI, says Razer CEOSiri is a GeminiHow Lego’s Smart Brick worksSubstack is launching a TV app, and not everyone is happyMia SatoJan 22PlayWhy nobody’s stopping GrokNilay PatelJan 22How BYD beat TeslaDavid PierceJan 20PlayGamers will learn to love AI, says Razer CEONilay PatelJan 19Siri is a GeminiDavid PierceJan 16How Lego’s Smart Brick worksDavid PierceJan 13Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories53 minutes agoGiving your healthcare info to a chatbot is, unsurprisingly, a terrible ideaAn hour agoWhy this winter storm will likely be a wild oneTwo hours agoTesla finally kills Autopilot in a bid to boost FSD subscriptions12:00 PM UTCGoogle won’t stop replacing our news headlines with terrible AIJan 22The state attorneys general are as mad as you areJan 22Claude Code is suddenly everywhere inside MicrosoftThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

This Vergecast episode centers around the significant shift within Sony’s television business, marking the end of an era for the company’s prominent role in the market. David Pierce, along with Nilay Patel, dissects the joint venture between Sony and TCL, framing it as a pivotal moment rather than a definitive end to Sony’s television legacy. The core of the discussion revolves around the implications of this partnership, focusing on what it signifies for consumers seeking new television sets.

The segment delves into Sony’s long history of innovation, specifically referencing icons like the Walkman, PlayStation consoles, and the groundbreaking Trinitron technology. The episode highlights a nostalgic recognition of Sony’s influence and contribution to the technological landscape. The conversation then broadens to examine the wider industry trends, particularly the emerging dominance of TCL, a Chinese manufacturer increasingly challenging established players.

Beyond the immediate television news, the episode transitions to a critical analysis of the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence. The hosts address the central question of monetization within the AI sphere – how can companies generate revenue from this rapidly evolving technology. OpenAI’s approach, centered around advertising, is scrutinized, alongside Apple’s exploration of hardware solutions. This segment extended to considering potential AI gadget form factors, ultimately suggesting a lack of a definitive “best” approach.

The discussion incorporates a “lightning round,” which involves a rapid-fire review of various tech-related developments. This included coverage of the FCC’s latest crackdown on late-night television hosts, Netflix’s upcoming redesign of its mobile user interface, the performance statistics of Telly (a streaming startup), speculation surrounding Trump’s mobile phone sales, and Microsoft’s plans for data center construction in Wisconsin. Finally, the episode touched upon the emerging trend of AI-generated content for YouTube, specifically the possibility of YouTubers using AI likenesses for Shorts.

The episode’s supplementary information, sourced from various news outlets, provides context for these developments. It includes articles pertaining to Sony’s TV business being transferred to TCL, insights into the implications of the partnership, and a broader overview of the AI landscape, including OpenAI’s strategic focus on practical adoption and advertising, Apple’s exploration of AI wearables, and a review of other key tech stories across various platforms. The episode also included links to relevant articles for further exploration, covering topics from late-night television regulations to updates on Microsoft's data center ambitions.