World Cup to boost LG plasma TV sales by 40 per cent

With an eye on the football fever in June, LG today officially unveiled the region's first flat panel TV with a built-in DVR to ensure soccer fans do not miss a second of the action. A 42-inch version of the LG DVR PDP is now on sale in the UAE, and a regional roll out of the product is expected to follow.

C.H Lee, President of LG Gulf FZE, said:

'The 2006 World Cup in Germany will generate massive demand for quality TV viewing and recording, and this latest innovation from LG is perfectly placed to fill an important gap in the market. The busy lifestyles of consumers have created a need for integrated products, and LG Electronics is the first manufacturer to address this growing trend with the High Definition DVR PDP.'

C.H Lee added: 'LG enjoys a 25 per cent market share for PDPs in the UAE and the Gulf, and we expect regional plasma TV sales to grow by as much as 40 per cent as the World Cup approaches. LG plasma TV sales grew 50 per cent in the Gulf last year, and our LCD TV sales shot up 200 per cent.'

LG occupies the number one spot for LCD and plasma TVs in the Middle East and Africa, with a combined market share of 40 per cent. The consumer retail and digital signage sectors have driven demand for plasma TVs, along with hotels replacing old CRT sets with flat panel technology.

Total TV sales for LG were US$431 million in the MEA region in 2005. PDP and LCD TV sales contributed US$136 million, a 75 per cent increase compared to 2004.

LG's DVR PDP was launched in Europe at CeBIT in March, and the product's built-in 80GB DVR can store up to 30 hours of digital standard-definition programming, equivalent to nearly 20 World Cup football matches.

The advanced technology can pause and replay TV just minutes after the original broadcast, and block out unwanted commercials with a touch of a button. The LG DVR PDP also boasts continuous automatic recording in one-hour intervals.

LG's exclusive XD™ Engine improves brightness, contrast, and 3D colour control. It also offers sharpness enhancement and 3D noise reduction, and the XDS and SRS/BBE Sound System delivers cinematic surround sound.

Clear Filter technology minimises dullness and eliminates the double image reflection of glass filter TVs. The LG DVR PDP's High Definition Multimedia Interface also does away with multiple wires in favour of a single cable for all functions.

Abdul Jabbar Al Sayegh, Chairman of Al Sayegh Brothers Trading, exclusive distributors in the UAE of LG digital display products, said: 'LCD TV and plasma TV have traditionally competed in different screen size and price segments, but falling prices have brought the products closer together. Integrated technologies like the LG DVR PDP help grow the plasma TV category and generate excitement for consumers.'

Al Sayegh added: 'We're seeing big demand for 42-inch and 50-inch screen PDPs, and customers are turning to specialised electronics stores in larger shopping malls because they are seen to offer the most product variety, and the best service and technical advice.

Customer service is increasingly important in our industry, and Al Sayegh Brothers will continue to set the highest standards.'

LG Electronics aims to become the number one player in the global display market by 2010 with worldwide sales of US$10 billion. To achieve its goal, LG will secure the largest production capability in flat panel displays from its four major plants in Mexico, Poland, China and Korea. LG will also build on its region-specific research and development efforts and localised marketing.

LG operates 27 research and development centres around the world and is investing more than US$2 billion in research and development as it explores new product categories like home networking, car infotainment, post-PC technology, and satellite and terrestrial DMB technology.

LG regained its position as the world's number one TV manufacturer in the fourth quarter of 2005, according to research firm iSuppli. LG shipped 5.7 million TV set, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of the market. LG had the largest share of the world TV market in 2005 at 10.2 per cent.