By Martin Vedris
SYDNEY: Both the plasma and LCD TV categories are growing but plasma holds a higher average sale price, because it focuses on larger screen sizes. The annual plasma TV market is approaching the 570,000 units mark in Australia. Against this backdrop, LG has signalled ‘game on’ to its competition.
As one of the world’s leading flat panel suppliers, LG Electronics wants the industry to know that it is very serious about plasma TV, and is aiming high for sales.
There might be talk of a looming recession, but LG is not waiting to see what happens . The company stated today that based on strong demand for plasma TV, it is aiming to sell 3 million plasma TVs globally in 2009. LG stated that this would give the company 19 percent of the total plasma TV market. And the company is planning to develop the plasma category locally as well.
“We are pleased to report that LG Australia has experienced year on year growth in market share for the plasma TV category,” said LG Electronics Australia TV category manager, Warren Kim. “On a local level, we will be focusing primarily on Full High Definition plasma TVs where demand is rapidly growing.”
LG also stated that, “As a founding member of the Plasma Display Coalition, we are committed to the plasma business and we believe plasma TVs are an important segment in the flat panel display sector. In addition, unlike some current and former plasma TV players, LG possesses core technologies for plasma TVs and PDP modules, giving us unique advantages in the market. We have invested heavily to strengthen the LG brand in this segment and will continue to do so.”
In terms of new product, LG said it will be releasing new Full HD plasma models with ‘time machine’ functionality and frameless designs.
The company also stated it “is initiating and expanding relationships with both premium retailers and mass merchandisers through proactive collaboration in promotional activities for plasma TVs”.