Samsung eyeing 50 pc market share of LCD TVs

Lucknow, Oct 12 (UNI) Electronic consumer goods major Samsung is eyeing a 50 per cent Indian market share of LCD televisions in India in the current fiscal.

Addressing the media here today, Samsung India Deputy Managing Director Ravinder Zutshi said the company has set a target of selling close to 1.5 lakh LCD TVs in FY07.

Samsung India clocked a sales volume of 30,000 LCDs last fiscal ending December 31, 2005.

''Apart from 1.5 lakh LCD units, we are also confident of vending about 50,000 plasma TVs. This jacks up the target to 2 lakh units in the flat panel TV lineup,'' Mr Zutshi added.

Currently, Samsung has a market share of over 45 per cent in LCD TVs and is the market leader in the segment. It is closely trailed by LG with around 37 per cent market pie.

Mr Zutshi was here to kickstart the four-day 100th Samsung's 'Dream Home Road Show' this year in the Uttar Pradesh capital.

The series of roadshows in tier 1 and tier 2 cities since April 2006, represents a unique effort by the company to showcase its high tech and advanced products to consumers, he informed.

To mark the 100the roadshow, Samsung also announced the all-India launch of its advanced 'Sonoma' series of LCD TVs in Lucknow.

Available in 32 inch and 40 inch -- for Rs 74,000 and Rs 1.29 lakh respectively -- screen sizes, the slim and compact 'Sonoma' LCD range stands out, as much for its picture performance, high fidelity sound as its superier design.

Mr Zutshi said the company was majorly focussing on smaller towns and cities to reach out to consumers with the whole range of products comprising TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, MP3 and DVD players, ACs, mobile phones etc.

''In this era of cut-throat competition, only companies which focus on product range, technology and new initiative will survive and benefit the consumers,'' he later told UNI.

''East UP is one of the most lucrative markets for Samsung and accounts for nearly Rs 150 crore business,'' the official said.

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