It has also been revealed that Samsung has said that it plans to build a new LCD TV production pant with Sony that is capable of making 50,000 glass sheets a month.  The two Companies will invest $1.9 billion in the new plant.

Samsung and Sony formed a joint venture called S-LCD in April 2004 however Sony last week announced a key relationship with Sharp. "The new 8-2 LCD line's production capacity will be similar to that of the 8-1 line," said Cho Yeong-duk, vice president of Samsung's LCD business, referring to the previous line set up by the joint venture that makes 50,000 sheets a month. Eight 46-inch or six 52-inch TV panels can be cut from each sheet, which measures 2,200mm by 2,500mm.

Japan's Nikkei Shimbun reported that Sony and Samsung have reached a basic agreement to invest ¥200 billion (US$1.9 billion) in the second line.ho said the "deal is not finalized yet," but added that the line was expected to cost 1.8 trillion won or about ¥200 billion.

He had told Dow Jones Newswires last week that Samsung and Sony -- which compete in the global home appliances and consumer electronics market, including LCD TVs -- are in the final stages of talks that have been going on since August about their South Korean joint venture to set up a second eighth-generation LCD line.

Cho said last week that Samsung and Sony will likely invest a similar amount of money in the second line.