Samsung Electronics will release a 32-inch curved TV. As the curved TV lineup, which was adopted only for the extra-large premium product groups, was extended to 30-inch products, this year is forecast to become the first year of the popularization of the curved TV.
According to a high-ranking official of Samsung Electronics Visual Display (VD) Business Division on January 12, SEC drew up the business direction for this year as the ‘introduction of SUHD and popularization of the curved TV,’ and decided to engage in aggressive curved marketing for the low-end full HD (1920×1080) TV as well. To this end, the company will unveil the ’32-inch curved TV’ next month at the same time as it officially launches new models for 2015 including the SUHD TV.
This product is the first curved model among the 30-inch TVs, which used to be regarded as a ‘second TV’ for small rooms or a TV for single-person households living in one-rooms and. It is meaningful in that the Samsung Electronics TV initiates the ‘popularization of curved TVs.’ “Selling curved TVs and monitors last year, we found special demands for ‘curved premium TVs’ in the small TV market,” said the insider. “Regardless of resolution and size, we will increase the number of curved models.”
SEC is reinforcing the curved strategy in the low-end TV segment because of the undiminished full HD TV market with focus on small and medium-sized TVs. According to industry insiders, SEC’s full HD and 4K TVs accounted for 90% and 10% of its total sales in the global TV market respectively last year. As the full HD TV accounted for more than 70% of the 50-inch and larger segment, the company thought that the full HD TV has a high value as a ‘potential curved market.’
Also, it is meaningful in that SEC is consolidating its leadership in the ‘curved’ market too. Until last year, SEC dominated the curved segment, but this year ‘unlimited competition’ is predicted as Chinese companies are introducing a large number of new products.
When asked about the business direction for this year, Kim Hyeon-seok, head of the VD Business Division (CEO) of SEC, said “curved.” SEC foretells the curved strategy in B2B and B2C. He said at a press conference at CES 2015, “The curved TV, which was an expensive model last year, will become a popular model this year.” SEC also announced the ‘final curved’ strategy. It aims to release an all-in-one PC with a curved monitor, expand the B2B monitor business, and release a low-end curved TV to make 2015 the first year of the ‘popularization of the curved TV.’