TV sales heat up amid World Cup fever

Sales of television have more than doubled in the last couple of weeks thanks to the FIFA World Cup in Russia as millions of Bangladesh's sports enthusiasts glue to screens to watch the Greatest Show on Earth.

Attractive promotional offers and discounts rolled out by retailers on the occasion of the World Cup and the tournament coinciding with service-holders getting bonus ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr turned out as a boon for TV marketers.

For example, Samsung Electronics' sales increased three times in the last couple of weeks compared to the same period last year, said Salman A Khan, products manager of the company.

Transcom Digital, a sister concern of Transcom Group that retails Samsung and Transtec TVs, recorded a 100 percent to 300 percent sales increase in June, officials said.

The sales of TVs with bigger screens are higher this time compared to last year, reported retailers. 

The sales of LED and smart TV of Walton, a local brand, were up 50 percent compared to previous months, Uday Hakim, operative director of the company, told The Daily Star.

He said Walton has set a target to sell at least 1.5 lakh units of TVs during the month-long World Cup and the sales have already gone up in all of its outlets and agent showrooms across the country.

Safin Hassan, head of sales of Rangs Industries that sells different branded TVs, said sales doubled in the last couple of weeks compared to previous months.

“This is because of the FIFA World Cup; service-holders also received Eid bonus in the days before the tournament began,” he said.

Rangs has rolled out a month-long sales offer to draw customers that also boosted sales.

“We have a target group that buys high quality products and we have achieved the target in the last few weeks,” he said.

Rangs Toshiba recently launched a new smart television -- Pro Theatre Ultra HD 4k Android TV -- that enables customers to access internet.

Tarmin Akter, a resident of Dhanmondi, bought a 65-inch Toshiba smart TV to enjoy her favourite team Japan's matches in the World Cup.

“It is my hobby to watch World Cup matches on big screens as it gives a different experience,” she told The Daily Star.

The same goes with GM Shipon, a businessman, who bought a premium TV of Samsung brand.

Nahid Hassan, marketing manager of Transcom Digital, said sales of smart and basic LED TV marked a rise. The demand for 32-inch to 40-inch LED and smart TV is higher.

Uday Hakim said customers like to buy TV screen of 32-inch to 40-inch as the price is low compared to larger screens.

“The middle class is our customers. So, the sale record is good this season,” he said.

The TV exchange offer of Transcom Digital got popularity as this allows customers to get rid of their old TVs and buy the chosen ones at a discount of at least Tk 5,000.

Hassan said they are selling about 500 smart and LED TVs every day under the exchange offer. “Obviously, our target relating to the World Cup will be achieved,” he said.

Samsung Electronics has also rolled out a similar exchange offer and is getting a good response, said Khan.

It also introduced “Joy Connect TV” that can be used as smart TV through smartphones without direct internet connection. Joy Connect TVs come with all the features of smart TVs, according to Khan.

Similarly, the demand for multimedia projectors has also increased significantly, said Zahidul Alam, owner of Techno Care Computer Ltd at the BCS Computer City in Agargaon.

Normally, five to 10 projectors are sold every day in the market as the product is mostly used for official purpose. Now, at least 20 projectors are being sold daily, he said. 

“The increased demand for projectors will continue till the final match of the World Cup as the youth like to watch matches on bigger screens,” he said.