Toshiba brings hi-tech TVs to changing Asean
Play
Amid the change in consumer behaviour in Asean, Toshiba is introducing cutting-edge large-screen TVs while preparing for digitalisation in the broadcasting industry in many countries in the region, including Thailand, which would also present a huge oppor
“Besides Malaysia and Vietnam, Thailand is also an important market for the company, as its market share in each country represents about 15 per cent of the industry,” Shigenori Tokumitsu, president of digital products and services for the home appliance and electronics manufacturer, told a regional press conference here yesterday.
Indonesia remained the biggest revenue contributor for the company as well as a manufacturing hub for the Asean market, he said.
Although the company had no investment plan for Thailand in the next five years, the team in Bangkok was developing a TV with a built-in signal converter for the transition to digital terrestrial TV.
This new model was expected to be launched in line with the debut of digital terrestrial TV broadcasting services in March.
Toshiba Corp has experience with digital terrestrial TV transition from 2004 in Japan and has developed unique functions like a “time shift machine”, which allows customers to record up to about 26 hours of programming for up to eight channels of digital terrestrial broadcasts.
The company might introduce this feature in the Thai market when the digital TV network covers most households.
To strengthen its presence in the Asian market, Toshiba is strengthening its large TV line-up. The company triggered a demand shift from conventional cathode ray tube or CRT TVs to light-emitting diode or LED TVs. Its market share jumped to 17 per cent last year from 10 per cent in the previous year.
Forecasting that large-screen TVs would rise to 30 per cent of the market this year from 16 per cent in 2010, Toshiba is launching a series of LED TV sets called “Toshiba Pro Theatre”.
