Sony recalling Bravia TVs over melting danger, reports say

From CNET News.com: According to the BBC, a total of 1.6 million of the affected sets have been sold worldwide. Citing a page on Sony's Europe Web site, the news service says Sony's KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, and KDL-40D3660 models, among several others, have been tagged as potential dangers.

"We have recently become aware of a potential issue affecting a very limited number of Bravia LCD TV models, which have been available for purchase in Europe since June 2007," Sony wrote on its site. The page didn't mention any U.S. issues, though the televisions were also sold in the States.

The affected televisions have a faulty component that could cause the televisions to smoke, melt, or catch fire, according to Bloomberg, which interviewed a Sony spokeswoman on the matter. Sony told Bloomberg that it is aware of 11 "incidents" that occurred in Japan because of the faulty component.

This latest blow to Sony's television division could intensify calls for the company to spin off or sell the operation to bolster its own financial statements. Over the last several quarters, Sony's financials have been dogged by poor performance from its television division, prompting shareholders to complain that it's time for the company to look for another option for its television operation.

Through it all, Sony's second-in-command, Kazuo Hirai, has continued to assert that he believes Sony's television business is an integral component in its operation.

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