Thin and mean, new TV models pack a punch
Retail prices of LED televisions and even those with 3D features could slide even further through the year
Dubai : The new wave of television models hitting local stores will pack in a lot more features and apps in their ever-thinning forms. As if that is not enough, their retail prices should continue to slide further.
This would make it more compelling for buyers looking to upgrade their television sets ahead of the Euro Cup and the London Olympic Games.
"Sixty per cent of these buyers are looking forward to watching the Olympics in 3D," said D.Y. Kim, president of LG Gulf.
"We have been facing new industry standards with consumers becoming more demanding."
Prices of LED TVs and even those with 3D features could drop through the year. Plasma TV shipments will witness a decline while those of LCDs are expected to record a slight rise to the Middle East and Africa markets.
Despite manufacturers sounding optimistic, IHS iSuppli projects total shipments this year to be between 11.5 million and 11.8 million units — against 11.8 million units last year — due to global economic concerns.
In 2011, the market grew 37.2 per cent, fuelled by strong demand for LCD TVs.
Demand for 3D TVs is gradual in its build-up and made up only 10 per cent of the overall shipments last year. But things should change.
"In conjunction with the increasing popularity and maturity of optic-fibre networking, as well as video-on-demand and online movie rental, smart TV was the star among all TV technologies last year," said Sweta Dash, senior director for LCD Research, IHS iSuppli.
LG is anticipating a 25 to 30 per cent increase in smart TV sales this year, while these were around 30 per cent for Samsung's regional operations.
"3D momentum was quite low in the UAE; however, more people are now interested in purchasing a 3D TV," said Kim.
"The market has been receptive to new technology and we plan to further attract consumers towards 3D TV with the launch of new product features and applications."
