LCD televisions are making their presence felt in relatively well-off urban homes, spurred by dropping prices over the last two years.
A 32-inch LCD television that takes up most of domestic sales is now available at a price tag of Tk 52,500 to Tk 1.1 lakh, depending on the brand and features. Two years ago, LCD televisions with the same size were sold between Tk 90,000 and Tk 1.6 lakh on the local market.
The prices of larger LCD televisions dropped by almost half, making buyers switch to the latest technology, retailers said.
Television technology is broken down into standard CRT (cathode ray tube), plasma and LCD (liquid crystal display). LCD televisions are always flat panelled in their design and basically make use of the same technology.
“It appears the LCD television is the craze," said Jafrul Alam Khan, national sales manager of Transcom Electronics Ltd, the distributor of Philips LCD televisions.
"People are greatly interested in purchasing LCD televisions to get a cinematic viewing experience."
Electronics retailers said the market for LCD televisions has been growing fast in the past two years, encouraged by falling prices and increased availability, as manufacturers have shifted focus to LCD televisions from CRT ones.
An increased production of LCD televisions has also contributed to the drop in prices.
“The market is growing by more than 60 percent a year," said Alam. "We registered about 75 percent average growth in sales of LCD televisions in the past couple of years."
According to one estimate, more than 7,000 LCD units were sold in Bangladesh in 2009, up from 6,000 units a year ago.
Increased warranty periods and an availability of easy bank loans also contributed to the rise in sales on the local market, which is still ruled by CRT televisions because of lower prices and high demand from low-income groups in urban and rural areas.
According to electronics distributors, businessmen and corporate executives are the main buyers of large LCD televisions in Bangladesh.
At present, the largest LCD television -- also known as a cinemascope TV -- is by Philips that measures 56 inches (Tk 5.95 lakh).
Mohammad Rakibul Hassan, senior executive (marketing) of Rangs Electronics, which markets Sony Bravia LCD televisions in Bangladesh, said consumers want to adopt the latest technology.
“We expect the market for LCD televisions to further climb as the World Cup Football Tournament is nearing."
“The price difference between a CRT and a LCD television is now low, which lures a section of consumers to prefer LCDs,” said Abdullah Ahmed Jamil, marketing manager of Electro Mart Ltd, distributor of Kanka LCD televisions.
Source: thedailystar.net
