Korean home appliance giant LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday released an ultra-definition (UD) TV with a 84-inch screen, taking its shot in the global race to make TVs with bigger screens and higher resolutions.
The new model, the biggest in screen size to be sold in the local market, will be available in nationwide retail outlets at around 25 million won ($22,067), according to the company.
Overseas sales will kick off in Europe and the United States next month ahead of releases in Asia and Latin America, it added.
The 84-inch UD TV is the latest in LG's efforts to drive the market for premium TVs with bigger screens and sharper images.
LG said the new model supports higher resolution compared with full high-definition (HD) models, enabling consumers to feel "the sense of reality and presence" while watching TV.
The No. 2 TV maker also stressed the gigantic size of the screen, pinning hopes on growing demand for large-screen TVs.
"Despite grim economic circumstances, we saw a bigger growth in demand for 60-inch TVs than 32-inch TVs in the local market. We believe there will also be demand in overseas markets," said Lee Tae-gweon, vice president at LG's home electronics division.
Global TV makers have been moving to release large-screen TVs. Earlier this year, top player Samsung Electronics Co. released a 75-inch full HD TV, while Japan's Sharp Corp. unveiled a 90-inch model.
According to market researcher DisplaySearch, shipments of 40-inch plus TV panels are likely to jump 22.7 percent on-year to $31.5 billion this year, driven partly by 55-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TVs in the second half. (Yonhap)