MUMBAI: HDTVs were the second most cited device when considering consumer electronics purchase intentions in the next six months, according to a recent trio of surveys conducted by ABI Research on the Asia Pacific consumer electronics markets.
Smartphones were No. 1, with nearly 60 per cent of Chinese
respondents. In contrast, only 43 per cent of respondents were interested in HDTVs.
In India, mobile phones (29 per cent of respondents), edged out HDTVs (27 per cent of respondents) to take the second position behind smartphones (35 per cent of respondents).
Purchase intent was similar in South Korea, with smartphones and HDTVs representing the top two device categories at 47 per cent and 22 per cent of respondents, respectively.
Considering the current economic conditions, developing markets will continue to serve as key targets by many consumer electronics companies.
Digital home practice director Jason Blackwell said, “The
maturing North American and Western European markets, in conjunction with the worldwide economic situation, are making growth increasingly difficult for many companies. In corroboration of this view, a considerably higher number of US and Western European respondents claimed to have no purchase intentions over the next six months. China continues to hold considerable growth opportunities, but one of the key challenges for international companies is penetrating a market that tends to favor domestic brands.”
In terms of HDTV brands favoured by Asia Pacific countries, 50 per cent and 46 per cent of South Korean respondents (those who have at least one HDTV) claimed to own Samsung and LG HDTVs, respectively; the next closest TV manufacturer was Sony at a mere three per cent.
This trend in sticking to domestic brands was also mirrored in China, with Changhong, Haier, HiSense, Konka, Skyworth, and TCL among the top 12 most common HDTV brands owned by respondents.
In India the results were mixed, with Sony, Samsung, LG, and Philips rounding out the top four brands listed by respondents.
