LCD TVs now 10 times cheaper

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LCD TVs now 10 times cheaper

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Kim Min-soo, who bought a 42-inch plasma display panel, or PDP, TV for 1.6 million won ($1,310) early this year, is feeling sore these days because the same model is now selling for 1.2 million won.
Prices of TVs that were more expensive are falling sharply. Certain 50-inch models that were 3 million won are now below 2 million won.
Liquid crystal display, or LCD, TV prices are falling as well. Just one year ago, 40 or 42-inch models were about 3 million won, but now they have fallen to 1.3 million won. Some models from China are in the 900,000 won range. Compared to 2004, when the first 42-inch LCD TV was released, prices have fallen 10 times.
The reason behind the continuing fall in digital TV prices is fierce competition ― not only among TV makers, but also panel makers. Especially with LCDs, Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG.Philips LCD are battling with Taiwanese firms such as AUO and ChiMei for a bigger portion of the panel market.
Because prices of TVs are dropping, larger companies are focusing on the premium market by differentiating their products in design and image quality. Samsung Electronics recently unveiled its new “Cannes” PDP TV. A regular 50-inch model is 2.5 million won, but a full HD model is 3.5 million won. For LCDs, a full HD 40-inch “Bordeaux” is 2.3 million won. LG Electronics sells a 42-inch LCD TV for 2.5 million won, which comes with a HD broadcasting recording feature.
“In the second half of this year, large TVs that are 50 inches or bigger and high resolution full high-definition models will be leading the market,” said Jeong Se-hee, a senior official at Danawa, an online price-comparison Web site. “The prices of 40-inch products have fallen pretty much as much as they can, so the price decrease margin of smaller digital TVs will not be as prominent anymore."


By Kim Chang-woo JoongAng Ilbo [wohn@joongang.co.kr]
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