What happens when the economy starts to slow down worldwide? Most folks would cut down on non-essential spending, so what better way to wind down after a hard day’s work than being at home? Apart from reading a good book, there should be something on TV or a DVD that you have yet to watch in your pad, and this might indirectly result in purchasing a new TV. Samsung has certainly benefited from this train of thought if it were proven true, as they saw stronger TV sales this year – which is aligned with their plans to roll out more affordable TVs even as demand for lower-end models increase.
Demand for the lower-end TV models has steadily risen over the months, since major South Korean retailers like E-Mart Co introduced flat-screen models which are 40% more affordable via alliances with small local manufacturers, and Samsung intends to dive right into the same plane of sales in order to grab a share of the market for themselves. According to Kim Hyun-suk, executive vice president of Samsung’s visual display division, “As long as there’s demand, we’re open to get into that segment. We’ve been preparing to introduce cheap models and have been studying to optimize production costs and retail prices. Those (cheap) models will be ready for sale in one or two months.” These models should sport HDMI connectivity, 720p resolution at the very least (1080p should be the standard these days) and Energy Star certification if anything.