Electronics Firms Enter Set-Top Box Market
The three largest electronics firms have stepped up their efforts to advance into
the digital broadcasting equipment market ahead of the country's planned
launch of digital TV broadcasting in November. LG, Samsung and Daewoo have put
on the market a series of set-top boxes capable of receiving a high-definition
(HD) broadcasting.
Samsung, which has introduced a digital TV set-top box that receives both
analog and digital broadcasting, plans to market new set-top boxes with add on
functions by forming technical tie-ups with local and foreign firms.
LG offers a high-definition digital TV set-top box of its own, on the market since
May. It plans to form a technical tie-up with Direct TV, the biggest satellite
television service provider in the United States, to develop a new set-top box
that catches satellite and cable broadcasting.
Daewoo plans to sell its own product that enables users to watch digital
broadcasting programs on either TV or PC.
Samsung and LG offer their set-top boxes at a price of 1.3 million won ($1,017) but
Daewoo plans to woo customers by offering its product for 950,000 won.
Crowded by 80 firms, the set-top box market is expected to grow to 265,000 units
in 2002 and 487,000 units in 2003.
