India to start high-definition broadcast by 2009

New Delhi, Oct 8: To increase viewers' experience with a significantly higher resolution pictures than traditional formats, Sony India Pvt Ltd today said India will start with high definition broadcast by 2009.

''We are in talks with various broadcasters and content providers to shift from standard broadcasting to high definition mode. China is going to launch the high defintion broadcasting next year. As India considers China as its immediate rival, the country should launch the service by 2009,'' company's Managing Director Masaru Tamagawa told reporters while launching the 'Bravia' range of LCD TVs.

Sony is the market leader having 80 per cent market share in the high definition and broadcasting technology.

The company is planning to achieve a turnover of Rs 2,900 crore in the current financial year. It achieved a turnover of Rs 2,300 crore in the last fiscal.

Mr Tamagawa said it is targeting at 25 per cent market share during the current fiscal and to attain the number one position in large screen segment.
The LCD market in India will touch 4,00,000 units this fiscal in comparison to 1,20,000 units last year, he said adding that the figure is likely to touch 30,00,000 by financial year 2010.

The company will launch 15 models of LCD TV in six different series in the current fiscal and will invest Rs 30 crore in marketing during the period.

''We are going to invest Rs 21 crore from this week till the end of the festive season on our marketing,'' he added.

Sony India has a large distribution network of over 7,000 dealers and distributors, 260 exclusive Sony outlets and 21 direct branch locations.

UNI