By Indrajit Ghosh, Director, India and South Asia, DisplaySearch

It is the season to shed weight in the Indian TV industry, with leading manufacturers introducing slim models every day, be it in the CRT or the LCD TV segment.

CRT market leaders LG, Samsung, Videocon, and Onida have all introduced slim CRT models. Many feel that slim CRT models will be the fastest growing in the CRT segment. The advantages are attractive designs with set depths down to 300 mm instead of 400 mm for true flat models.

For manufacturers, this is good news. Less space is required for packing, resulting in savings in logistics costs. Slim CRTs are expected to give a new lease on life to the CRT segment in India. However, overall CRT sales are not expected to grow, so slim CRT TVs will take part of the existing CRT market share.

No Indian companies are currently manufacturing slim CPTs (tubes); all CPTs are now imported. These products are not subject to antidumping duties currently in place on imports of other types of CPTs, both true flat and curved.

Samsung has taken the lead in this segment by moving away from traditional curved TV and reducing the true flat sets in its portfolio, while introducing a line of slim CRT models. Even the new entrant Godrej has launched a slim 21″ TV in India; company insiders said that the results of test marketing were very positive. With the price differential dropping fast, slim CRT will soon be a serious threat to the 21″ true flat segments.

On the other hand, the race for the crown of slimmest LCD is also on. Samsung took the lead in introducing an LED TV that is 1.16″ deep in 40″ and 46″. LG is not taking this lying down, and they are in the process of introducing their range of LED TVs in Amsterdam. They are flying in 500 dealers just for this purpose. Their sets are expected to be 40″ and 47″. The race to slimmer and trimmer in the LCD segment is also pulling in Indian brands like Videocon, which is introducing their first slim range of LCD TVs.

The major hurdle in this race is cost. Currently, slim LCDs are being sold at a 60-70% premium. At this price, there will not be much enthusiasm, even though the style will be appreciated. However, leaders like Samsung and LG believe that the slim form factor of the new range of LED TVs will drive demand and will account for nearly 10% of their sales in the FPD category for 2009-10.