Global digital leader LG Electronics, a major player in the global flat panel display market, announced its first 32-inch plasma TV, the 32PC5RV, to be launched worldwide this month.

The new plasma TV will be released in 27 countries across the globe in November, including countries in the Middle East, Central/South and North America, Europe, CIS region, and North and Southwest Asia. LG’s latest product is an affordable solution for buyers looking for plasma TVs in small size ranges where LCD TVs are dominant.

The 32-inch flat panel TV is the fastest growing segment in the industry, as the large-size market is becoming saturated. According to DisplaySearch, demand for 32-inch TVs has grown to comprise 24.9 million units in 2007, and is expected to increase to 33.4 million units in 2008.

“There is an overwhelming demand for this size of flat panel TV in emerging markets, in part due to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Until now, people had previously only been able to buy an LCD TV in this size range. So we are offering a plasma option, which is also easier on the eyes, to provide more choice to consumers,” explained K W Kim, president of LG Electronics – Middle East and Africa.

However, as recently as 2005, the demand for 32-inch LCD TVs was 5.8 million units. Driving this remarkable change is the growing consumer preference for secondary or private TVs for the home in the high-end market, and newly increasing demand for affordable flat panel TVs in emerging markets.

As the smallest and slimmest plasma TV available, LG’s 32PC5RV will broaden the options for global customers. It is also an excellent choice for hotel rooms or retail settings where a small-size wall-mounted TV is preferred to maximize space.

“It’s about carving out a new niche for a growing demand,” Kim added. “When there is a large flat-panel TV in almost every living room in the high-end market, people start to want a more personal TV set for cosier settings, which has led to the ‘second TV’ trend.

The 32PC5RV’s 16:9 aspect ratio screen makes it ideal for watching high-quality sources such as DVDs without eye fatigue. With a 0.001 ms response time, the 32PC5RV can keep up with the fastest moving action movies and sporting events. -TradeArabia News Service