Published : Jan. 12, 2012 - 16:05
Firm targets 15% TV growth, 49.45 million flat-panel TV set
LAS VEGAS ― Samsung Electronics expects to widen the gap in television sales with its rivals this year while targeting 15 percent growth from last year, said the head of its digital media and communications.
Yoon Boo-keun, who oversees the television and digital appliance divisions at the world’s top technology firm, told reporters the company expects to sell 49.45 million flat-panel TVs, up from 43 million in 2011.
“This year’s strategy for Samsung is widening the gap with our rivals in all categories, including TVs,” he said on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show.
Yoon Boo-keun
Samsung will push to increase its share in 32-inch and smaller TVs, 50-inch and above TVs and smart and 3-D TVs, according to Yoon.
He also said it was “beyond comparison” when asked about his reaction to the statement made by Kwon Hee-won, LG Electronics’ home entertainment business chief, that LG will strive to take top position this year at a separate press conference held the day before.
“I won’t be able to evaluate LG’s organic light-emitting diode TVs since I haven’t seen them yet but we have partnered with many global firms like Comcast, Time Warner, NBC Universal and YouTube and the 3-D broadcast with NBC Universal is set to be released in April,” he said.
With such content providers in place, the next task for the company is to figure out how to deliver content without disruptions in connectivity, said Yoon.
He also confirmed that Samsung will introduce Google TV this year and that it was currently working with Google to offer differentiated services.
“But I can’t provide the details on the features or the release date because it is a promise that must be kept between the two companies,” he noted.
By Cho Ji-hyun, Korea Herald correspondent
(sharon@heraldcorp.com)