40-inch HD tellies could cost $2000 by next year

SOUTH KOREA is pumping out Big Tellies like there's no tomorrow, and the price of the big-but-slim LCD panels is dropping.

Korean firm Erae Electronics said it plans to offer 40-inch LCD TVs for W3.49 million (US$3,490) this month, Korean publication Chosun reports.

The high-definition TVs include a set-top box along with panels made by S-LCD, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Sony.

Last month, Erae cut the price of 32-inch LCD TVs from W2.19 million to 1.99 million ($2000 US), Chosun said.

Competing firm, Diboss, slashed its 40-inch LCD products to around W4.5 million and Samsung and LG have also been weilding the price axe, chopping prices from W8-9 million to some W5.5 million ($5500 US).

Analysts said the price of 40-inch LCD TVs could drop as low as W2 million ($2000 US) next year. µ

L'INQ
chosun.com