Australian consumer electronics retailers and some top end TV vendors are believed to be pocketing massive margins from a new range of 65″ Ultra HD TV which are set to go on sale in September. Earlier today TCL announced a 65″ model for sub $5,000, this is $3,999 cheaper than the 65″ Sony 4K TV launched earlier this month.
Last week JB Hi Fi was advertising a Hisense 65″ Ultra HD Smart 3D LED LCD TV with built-in Wi-Fi, 3840 x 2160, 100Hz, Opera Web Browser, 3 x USB, 4 x HDMI for $4,297.
Currently the LG 84″ Ultra High Definition TV is selling for $15,999.
According to TCL sources the local operation of the Chinese Company will not launch their sub $1,000 55″ Ultra HD TV in Australia instead the Company is concentrating on the 65″ market with retailers looking to pocket the additional margin being offered on 4K Ultra HD TV’s.
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One retailer said “The TCL 65″ 4K TV display is as good as those we have seen from Samsung LG and Sony, consumers looking to upgrade to the new technology are prepared to pay a premium and for retailers it is critical that margins are preserved”.
The new TCL TV is $1,000 cheaper than Sony’s 55″ 4K TV.
Retailers set to stock the new TCL 4K TV includes selected Harvey Norman stores, Bing Lee stores and selected Betta Electrical stores.
ChannelNews first saw this TV at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and in a blind display test we believe that many consumer would find it difficult to identify the difference between a $5K TCL offering and the top end Sony TV.
Harry Wu, General Manager of TCL Electronics Australia said “We are able to deliver this technology because we own our manufacturing processes and continue to invest in the R&D required to bring 4K TV technology to fruition. In addition to new picture quality technology we are also broadening our screen sizes significantly with multiple options in the 65-inch category”.
Shortly TCL will go head to head with arch rival Hisense with the launch of a Google TV offering according to Nick Redmond the National sales director of TCL Australia.
“We believe that TCL has matured as a brand in Australia and over the next few months you will some interesting products from us. We are not doing a 55″ 4K model because we believe that consumers want to watch 4K quality content on a larger screen”.
TCL is also exploring the release of a 4K player that will come loaded with 4K movie content, they are also working on new technology that up-scales existing content to 4K.
The 65-inch TCL E5691 delivers next-generation 4K Ultra High Definition picture quality in an LED Edge-Lit SMART 3D TV. The display screen is 4096×2160 resolution which is four times the resolution of Full HD (1080p), and up scales HD content – TV shows and movies (both Blu-rays & DVDs) to 4K to provide enhanced picture quality, sharper detail and contrast.
