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LCD television sets are on their way out of Indian homes, giving way to LED ones as the price difference between the two shrinks. Appliance makers admit that they are junking “older” screens in favour of the superior LED sets.
According to a senior LG official, the cost of production between LCD and LED are almost the same. Further, television manufacturers are finding it more “profitable” to market LED-enabled sets. Entry-level LED TVs currently sell for around Rs 13,000-14,000, while LCD models retail for Rs 11,000-12,000.
LG, the country’s second largest TV maker, has confirmed that it planned to phase out LCD monitors. Panasonic India, too, has confirmed its exit from LCD TV-making. According to market sources, production will gradually be off, though servicing of the LCD sets will continue.
Compared to traditional colour TV sets (called CRT or cathode ray tube), LCD or liquid crystal display-enabled sets have better picture quality. LED (light emitting diode) televisions are similar to LCD screens but come with a different back lighting system that ensure even finer pictures than LCDs.
“We will phase out LCD monitors by the end of this year. I think it’s an industry trend and not just unique to LG,” Rishi Tandan, Marketing Head, Home Entertainment, LG Electronics India, said on the sidelines of the launch of LG’s new flat panel-based TV sets.
LG has around nine LCD models in the market. Most of its new launches are LED-enabled.
Panasonic said that the exit of LCD TV sets from its product portfolio was a reality.
Market sources said that only two models of Panasonic’s LCD television sets are currently available in the market.
“Panasonic has already exited LCDs. We are not producing any new LCD TVs. Once the old stock is finished, we will only have LEDs in our product portfolio,” Manish Sharma, MD, told Business Line in an e-mailed response.
According to market sources last year (2012), 35 per cent of the TV sets sold were LED-enabled, while another 60-odd per cent was LCD. The remaining were traditional box-sets (also called CRTs).
LG, for example, expects LEDs to contribute 80 per cent towards its TV sales this year. Another 20 per cent will be from LCDs.
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