Aeon to launch small flat-panel TV for 29,800 yen+

TOKYO, Aug. 14 Kyodo -
In another price-cutting move to stimulate consumption amid an economic
slowdown, Japan's largest retailer Aeon Co. plans to offer 18.5-inch
flat-screen digital television sets for 29,800 yen per unit, starting next
Tuesday, company officials said Friday.

The price is much lower than comparable TVs with a 19-inch liquid crystal
display panel, which sell for just under 45,000 yen at big discount home
appliance stores, analysts said.
Aeon will sell 10,000 units of the stripped-down TV, manufactured in South
Korea by Tokyo-based audio-visual equipment maker Dynaconnective Co., at 300
Jusco, Saty and other outlets across Japan other than Okinawa Prefecture,
according to the officials.
The supermarket chain will procure more TVs form Dynaconnective if demand
proves strong.
The TV is covered by the government program to give ''eco points'' for
energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and televisions that are
capable of receiving high-quality terrestrial digital broadcasting. Under the
program aimed at promoting Japan's battle against global warning, up to 10,000
eco points, equivalent to 10,000 yen, will be given to buyers, lowering the
effective price of the TV to as low as 19,800 yen.
Aeon decided to offer the inexpensive digital TVs as Japan will end analog
broadcasting in July 2011.
The company began selling 32-inch LCD TVs, with built-in DVD players, at a
price of 49,800 yen in February. The retailer also began selling jeans for 880
yen apiece Friday.
According to market research firm GfK Marketing Services Japan Ltd., sales of
20-inch or smaller flat-screen TVs at major discount appliance store chains
doubled in July over a year earlier. The average price of 19-inch TVs is 44,000
yen.
==Kyodo