Samsung to launch low-priced 3D TVs
Samsung Electronics Co, the world's largest maker of televisions, plans to offer a range of 3D TVs that will be priced lower than its existing models after high prices damped demand.
The electronics maker will include the technology in seven models this year, Lee Kyung Shik, a vice president at the digital-media division, said in Seoul without disclosing prices. Samsung will display six models at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jason Kim, a company spokesman said.
"After assessing consumers' needs through market research, we've found that there's quite strong demand for 3D TVs," Lee said. "But price has been an obstacle."
Samsung joins Toshiba Corp in seeking to boost demand for 3D TVs after high prices and the need to wear special glasses deterred sales. Tokyo-based Toshiba said yesterday that it plans to sell the world's first large-sized 3D sets that don't require viewers to wear spectacles.
Samsung, based in Suwon, South Korea, plans to start a Web-streaming service that allows viewers to watch movies and TV shows in 3D without downloading them, Lee said. Also, 3D glasses weighing 28 grams, about 10 grams lighter than current models, will be showcased at the CES, the company said in a statement.
A lack of television content is a major challenge in convincing consumers to buy 3D TVs, Yoon Boo Keun, head of Samsung's TV business, said in October. Samsung offered three high-end 3D models in 2010.
