CTV prices falling

Foreign manufacturers, who have stayed away from such schemes, seem to have seen wisdom in the old saying, quot;if you can8217;t lick 8217;em, join 8217;em.quot; Daewoo has its 20-inch model priced at Rs 9,990 and the 21-inch model at Rs 11,990. Thomson has two 21-inch models, priced at Rs 11,490 and Rs 13,490, under exchange schemes.

While this is the scene on the exchange offers, CTV prices, especially in the 25-inch and 29-inch categories, have also crashed. Onida8217;s 25-inch model costs Rs 20,990 and 28-inch costs Rs 24,990. Grundig has brought down the prices of its 25-inch model to Rs 22,990. Only a yearearlier, the same price tags could be seen on the 20-inch and 21-inch models.

Even Sony, which has till now strived to keep itself away from any pricing promotions, joined the bandwagon offering Rs 1,000 discount and a free gold coin on its 21-inch model, priced around Rs 24,050. The scenario is in direct contrast with the kind of market which prevailed in 1996 and early 1997, when the price of a 21-inch was anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000.

All the manufacturers of popular brands have gone on record saying that they would be introducing quot;economy modelsquot; which would break the actual price barriers in the market. And the game plan is to bring in lower-end models to preserve the brand association of the existing range.