My plasma TV just went all retro on me, any advice

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Taubin

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#322821 24-Sep-2025 20:44

While watching my tv tonight, it decided to (apparently) give up the ghost. I'm not good with electronics or anything like that, but I'm wondering if anyone knows what may have caused this and if it's worth fixing? I can't really afford a new tv right now. It's a panasonic TH-P42UT30Z photo of the screen and model number below

Short video showing the issue as well:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yCPpBhKazBxFtfjF9

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also brands that don't suck if I do need to get a new one, that also don't break the bank would be appreciated.

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

Stu1

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#3418589 24-Sep-2025 20:49

Step 1 enter the draw in off topic, double entry if you add the pic.Good luck 🍀 hope you win .It’s really hard and expensive to fix tvs these days, often cheaper to buy a new one

Taubin

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#3418592 24-Sep-2025 21:01

Stu1:

Step 1 enter the draw in off topic, double entry if you add the pic.Good luck 🍀 hope you win .It’s really hard and expensive to fix tvs these days, often cheaper to buy a new one

Thank you I did actually enter that last week I think, I should upload this photo for it lol

Any brand suggestions? I haven't had to shop for a tv in over a decade!

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bfginger

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#3418613 24-Sep-2025 23:20

Sony, LG, Panasonic Fire TV.

There can be good used bargains on Trademe.

robjg63

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#3418698 25-Sep-2025 10:37

So this is Freeview?

It looks like someone went crazy on the brightness controls!

Have you tried the TV on another source - ie do you have a DVD player, or any other media devices that you can try.

Does the picture look washed out on that as well?

Could be worth a factory reset.

According to google:

To perform a factory reset on your Panasonic TH-P42UT30Z TV, press the Menu button on the remote, navigate to Setup, then System, and select Factory Defaults. Confirm your choice by selecting Yes when prompted. This process will erase all personalized settings and return the TV to its original factory state.

You would then need to go through and retune the TV of course.

The Panasonic plasmas still have a nice picture (when they are working of course).

Probably not possible/worth trying to take it somewhere for repair to be honest - and who does that work these days.

I still have a 50" 2009 Panasonic plasma. It just wouldnt turn on one day and I found it has a couple of cooling fans that blocked up with dust and needed cleaning. Fortunately very easy to do and it was all happy again.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Taubin

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#3418700 25-Sep-2025 10:52

We were initially watching through a chromecast when it happened, and switched to freeview. It happens on all of it. We tried with nothing attached at all, as well as a factory reset unfortunately it happened after the reset as well.

This morning I turned it on to see if it somehow came right, and it was even worse, a black smear (for lack of a better term) has creeped in on both sides very organic looking (like it's oozing in it was very amusing). The TV certainly doesn't owe us anything at this point, so I'm going shopping for a new one today.

I just have to figure out how to get rid of this one. If anyone wants it free, they can come pick it up in Albany up three flights of stairs. We unfortunately won't be able to help move it as I have an injured shoulder and my wife is too small to bring it down but hey, free non-working plasma! lol

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

robjg63

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#3418703 25-Sep-2025 11:03

If you buy a new TV you will probably pay for delivery and maybe installation buy the sound of it.

Just make sure you ask about taking the old TV away - I think there is often a disposal option...

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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Taubin

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#3418801 25-Sep-2025 17:02

I ended up grabbing a cheap TCL TV, it's the same size as the plasma tv. I'll use a dolly to take the plasma tv to a recycling center once my shoulder is a bit better. For now I've drug it into a space in the spare room.

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