Samsung has enjoyed solid HDTV sales in recent times: having shipped 43 million flat-panel TVs globally in 2011, the Korean consumer electronics giant is aiming to sell 50 million units worldwide this year. The TV maker is also expecting the demand for more affordable, lower-end TVs to increase, and is planning to cater for this trend by launching cheaper, entry-level televisions.
Samsung to introduce cheaper TVs as sales grow |
The demand for cheaper TVs has been on the rise over the past few months, with established retailers in South Korea (such as E-Mart Co) offering flat-screen models at prices of up to 40 percent cheaper thanks to alliances with small local manufacturers. With many people still struggling due to the weak economic and financial climate, less expensive television sets are likely to go down well with those who want to avoid paying a fortune for a TV.
Samsung’s executive vice president of visual display division Kim Hyun-suk recently confirmed that the company is happy to get into the low-end TV market if that is what the consumers are demanding. He said that Samsung has been getting prepared to introduce more affordable models to the television market, and that research has been carried out in order to optimise retail prices and production costs. He added that the cheaper TVs should be hitting the shelves in around a month or two, so the budget conscious won’t have long to wait before they are able to get one of these low-cost displays.
At the other end of the scale, the Seoul-based conglomerate also unveiled its flagship premium LED TV – the ES8000 series – first at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last month, and then at the company’s European Forum in Prague this week. The Samsung ES8000 comes with a range of exciting features, including 3D and internet-connected Smart TV capabilities, as well as voice, facial and gesture recognition functionalities.