Samsung Electronics Sets Sights On Plasma TV Dominance

Business Wire, Jan 8, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CES 2002

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002

Samsung Electronics today announced the unveiling of its 63-inch plasma display panel (PDP) TV.

In March of this year, the company will unveil a 63" PDP TV model -- the largest on the market to date. The move follows the initial launch of 42" and 50" PDP TVs in 2001.

With the advent of worldwide digital broadcasting, plasma display panel TVs are expected to soar in popularity over the next decade as the preferred model for television viewing. The Korean-based manufacturer plans to capitalize -- selling 50,000 PDP TVs in the worldwide this year, with total sales rising to 250,000 units in 2003 and one million units in 2005.

An annual marketing budget of $80 million has been set for the next five years, proving the emphasis Samsung is placing on this innovative product line.

Geesung Choi, Executive VP, Visual Display Division, comments, "Samsung Electronics will focus all available resources on PDP TVs -- the first choice for digital TV. We aim to be the best in terms of brand name, technology and product quality, making the PDP TV one of our mainstay business lines, along with memory chips and LCDs."

By 2003 Samsung will be operating production lines for 37", 42", 50" and 63" models.

Initial interest in wide-screen PDP TVs is expected to be greater in the corporate market than among individual consumers. In anticipation of growing consumer demand, however, Samsung plans to run a worldwide digital roadshow, the focus being on PDP TVs, to stimulate sales through the largest retailers.

In order to respond effectively to such rapidly growing demand, the company plans to establish offshore PDP TV production facilities in Mexico and Hungary, with annual production capacities between 100,000 and 200,000 units by 2003.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductors, the consumer electronics industry, and digital convergence technology. The Company employs approximately 66,000 people in 50 countries. Samsung Electronics is the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of mobile phones, the world's largest producer of DRAMs, and the first developer and mass producer of digital TVs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business units: Digital Media, Semiconductor, Information & Communications, and Home Appliance Businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.samsungelectronics.com..