JEDDAH, 27 September 2005 — Electronics and its local partner United Yousef M. Naghi Co. Ltd. (UYMN) celebrated the arrival of the world’s largest Plasma Display Panel (PDP) TV in Saudi Arabia by unveiling a limited edition, gold-plated version of the “unique” product at a ceremony at Jeddah Hilton on Sunday night. The new 71-inch PDP TV is claimed to be the largest of its kind in the world.
Aimed at the Korean electronic giant’s growing high-end customer base, the new ‘LG Royal’ TV comes with the owner’s name carefully engraved, and a special ownership certificate.
One thousands units of the limited edition are to be made available the world over, senior LG executives told a press conference that preceded the launch ceremony attended by local dignitaries and businessmen.
The 71-inch PDP TV is the “largest plasma display TV on the market,” and it underlines the company’s confident leadership in the PDP segment. “We’re delighted to stage the regional debut of our latest product innovation in Saudi Arabia, which is a key market for us,” K.H. Kim, president, LG Middle East & Africa said.
PDP represents a major growth product segment, and it is a central component of the digital home environment, which LG is pioneering. “We’re aiming for a 30 percent share of the global PDP module market this year, and a leading 20 percent share of the worldwide PDP TV market by 2006,” Kim added.
The gold-plated ‘LG Royal’ limited edition product, which will be sold complete with a home theater package and a digital broadcast receiver, reflects LG’s growing sophistication both as a marketing organization and product innovator.
“LG is the genuine leader for premium digital products, and the ‘LG Royal’ series caters specifically to some of our most exclusive customers in the Kingdom,” C.K. Cho, general manager, LG Saudi Arabia, said.
LG has made significant technological breakthroughs to develop the 71-inch PDP TV, which has a contrast ratio of 16:9 and an embedded picture-enhancement chip XD engine. Before the global launch of the product in December last year, many in the industry considered it impossible to make a PDP TV with a 71-inch screen.
“As one of LG’s largest regional markets, Saudi Arabia displays considerable diversity in customer demand. The 71-inch PDP TV fills an important gap in the market for high-end home entertainment, and the ‘LG Royal’ addresses the specific needs of niche customers who demand exclusivity at every level,” said Ammar Yousef Naghi, president of UYNM, the exclusive distributor of LG’s digital appliances across the Kingdom.
“Today’s launch involves not only a great product, but also world-class customer and after-sales service in this highly competitive market,” Naghi added.
The company claims to be the market leader for PDP TVs in 17 countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia, and South Africa, aside from the Kingdom.