Abenson sees 300% hike in sales of LCD television

Abenson, the country’s biggest appliance store network, has seen a 300 percent increase in sales of LCD (liquid crystal display) television sets as Filipinos eagerly adopt the latest technology, according to Abenson president Winston Lim.

In a press briefing, Lim pointed out that television technology is now moving to high definition TVs, primarily through LCDs and plasma.

The old CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs, Lim said, are slowly on their way out.

Filipino consumers, likewise, Lim observed, are increasingly going for bigger screen TVs as they upgrade their entertainment system.

Prices of LCD and plasma TVs, Lim pointed out, have already dropped significantly from two to three years ago.

In fact, Lim said, a 43" big screen projection TV is now being sold by Abenson for P49,995 with a free DVD.

Two to three years ago, Lim revealed, such a TV would retail for P150,000.

Among the market leaders in LCD and plasma TVs, Lim said, are Sony, Philips, Sharp and Samsung.

Abenson, Lim boasted, currently control 35 percent of the market for big screen TVs.

Industry studies, Lim cited, predict that worldwise CRT ownership will decline from 84 percent to 57 percent between 2005 to 2009 as prices correspondingly decline for LCD and plasma TVs.