After the BBC’s Watchdog programme suggested that the PlayStation 3 had a manufacturing fault, Sony has sent a strongly worded letter criticising the show’s news item as a “stunt.”
The programme investigated the claim after several contributors complained of the “yellow light of death”, a symptom after which their consoles no longer worked. Approaching three independent repairers, examination revealed that the units contained large numbers of soldering faults on electronic components.
Writing in a letter to the programme Sony UK’s senior vice president and managing director Ray Maguire said “We think it is highly unfair to suggest that from an installed base of 2.5 million that the numbers you mention somehow are evidence of a ‘manufacturing defect. The phrase ‘yellow light of death’ has been adopted by certain members of the online community to describe the situation in which PS3 systems have shut down following the illumination of the yellow light on the PS3’s front panel. The yellow indicator is simply a non-specific fault indicator that can be triggered in a range of different circumstances.”
Regarding the faults seen Mr Maguire added that not all the faulty units showed comparable signs, indicating that it was not a manufacturing issue.
Meanwhile a spokesperson from the BBC said “Watchdog investigated this item having been contacted by 155 viewers who had experienced problems with their PS3. We presented a fair and accurate account of their stories, using expert advice and we broadcast Sony’s response.”
