JVC flirting with Hoya for Pentax? (updated)

As you may recall, a few days ago the Hoya COO had an interview talking Pentax and the "electronics guys" and the need for partnerships. Today Rice High has spotted financial news from Japan talking of JVC and Hoya talking Pentax. Both companies denied this, but that's standard practice since discussions and negotiations of this variety are of the confidential and secret variety.

JVC doesn't sell cameras under its name these days, but they have a variety of camcorders, including some 3CCD models. And as you can see through the Engadget archives, JVC has returned to the consumer level with their own Flip-clone, the Picsio.

Update!
Another big Japanese publication is adding to this, claiming that JVC (Victor) will sell their music software company and buy Pentax. See this and a recap at the Macro Photography blog.

Pure Speculation
This section is pure speculation! Perhaps the release of the Picsio may be a sign that JVC is interested in cameras again, especially now that DSLRs are encroaching into HD-video territory. It could be a risk management move, hedge their bets, in case DSLR-Video takes over camcorder-video in the hearts and wallets of consumers. And from the sound of the name, it looks like they already integrated Optio in their line-up. Picsio, Optio, Picsio, Optio, Picsio, Optio :-)

This may also explain why both the Hoya CEO and COO were so openly talking about the "electronics guys" and the bleak future of Pentax if it remains "alone", risking the possibility of photographers running away from Pentax. Perhaps the executives were already trying to pre-sell the JVC deal?