NEW YORK (AP) — For some people. tv viewersobviously size matters.
Forget about 65-inch TVs Ten years ago it was considered larger than average. in time for the holidaysmanufacturers and retailers are increasingly rolling out XXL screens over 8 feet wide. This is wider than a standard three-seater sofa or king size bed.
According to market research firm Circana, extra-large TVs accounted for just 1.7% of all TV set sales in the U.S. in the first nine months of this year. However, companies prepare for shoppers Analysts say there’s reason to think the growing ultra category will be a bright spot in a depressed TV market, given the heavy hype surrounding Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in the run-up to Christmas.
Sarkana said 38.1 million TVs with a width of 97 inches or more were sold between January and September, a 10-fold increase compared to the same period last year. best buyThe nation’s largest consumer electronics chain has doubled its selection of large-format TVs (19 models range in price from $2,000 to $25,000) and installed displays in about 70% of its stores.
“This year has been really strong,” said Blake Hampton, Best Buy’s senior vice president of merchandising.
Analysts believe the new demand will be driven by: improved technology And a much cheaper price. So far this year, the average price for a TV 97 inches or larger is $3,113, compared to $6,662 last year, according to Circana. korean electronics Manufacturer samsung It launched its first 98-inch TV in 2019 at a hefty price of $99,000. There are currently four versions starting at $4,000, the company said.
Anthony Ash, 42, who owns a wood pallet and recycling business, recently purchased a 98-inch Sony for his 14,000-square-foot home in Bristol, Wisconsin. The device cost about $5,000, not including installation, and replaced an 85-inch TV in the great room off the kitchen. Ash currently has 17 televisions in his home, some of which he uses to display digital art.
“When we saw that the price was right for what we were looking for, we thought, ‘Why not?'” he said of his decision to upsize to Sony. “The bigger the TV, the better the TV experience. You’re sitting and watching TV with people the same size as you on the TV. It puts you in the field.”
The amount of time many people spend staring at their phones and tablets. stream movies and TV shows are also another factor driving growth widescreen tv screen. Sarkana said that from January to September, overall TV sales revenue fell 4%, but unit sales rose 1%.
Most people only invest in a TV every seven years, said Rick Kowalski, senior director of business intelligence at Amazon.com, but when they do, they usually opt for something larger. Consumer Technology Association. Over the past 15 years, the size of flat-panel TVs shipped to U.S. retailers and dealers has grown an average of an inch a year, Kowalski said.
coronavirus pandemic The growth trend accelerated as people spend more time at home. In fact, screen size increased by an average of 2 inches in both 2021 and 2022, with 85-inch TVs starting to gain traction among consumers, Kowalski said. He said the pace of shipments of 98-inch TVs to the United States has accelerated this year, with models as large as 110 to 115 inches now on the market.
“Resolution improves over time,” Kowalski says. “The image quality will be better. So over time, it will be easier to create those sets and improve the technology.”
Best Buy’s Hampton said the benefit of a giant TV is the ability to watch multiple shows at the same time, describing the experience as “incredible.”
If you’re watching YouTube TV content, or ‘ NFL Sunday TicketYou can actually install four screens. So we have four 48-inch screens,” he said.
Manufacturer New features have also been added. samsung The company said it designed its 98-inch lineup with components that analyze what viewers are seeing to increase clarity and reduce visible noise in every scene.
James Fischler, senior vice president of home entertainment for Samsung’s U.S. division, said that Experience content It’s shifting.
“Especially if you’re watching TV as a shared experience,” Fischler said. “They want to host watch parties, gather around the TV to watch the big game, or set up a cinematic movie experience at home.”
Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer, and its Sam’s Club division, as well as Chicago retailer Abto Electronics, also say they are expanding their television lineups to meet customer demand for extra-large screens.
TV industry experts say these monster TVs are starting to overtake home theater projectors. Home theater projectors produce a 100 to 120-inch, low-definition image and require a room with blackout curtains or without windows.
“A dedicated viewing room for watching movies was solely the purview of the projector,” said Andrew Sivori, vice president of entertainment. LG Electronicsanother Korean manufacturer. “But you can get a much better viewing experience using direct TV.”
Retailers and TV manufacturers say the buyers making the deals range from millennials and Gen Xers to tech-native Gen Zers. But, says John Abt, co-president of Abt Electronics, “this is still a niche business.”
“A lot of people don’t have space for them,” he added.
So before shoppers dream big this holiday season, they should make sure a 98-inch TV will fit. Best Buy says its Geek Squad team is asking if your staircase or entryway is large enough to accommodate delivery and installation. The retailer said the augmented reality feature in the Best Buy app was particularly helpful for XXL TVs, as it allows customers to see if a product is the right size.
But for those worried about finding space to watch, there’s good news. The recommended distance for a 98-inch TV is actually just 6 to 12 feet from the seating area. Samsung’s Fischler says a good rule of thumb to determine the ideal viewing distance is to multiply the diagonal length of your TV by 1.2.
If bigger is better in the television sector, how far can you scale?
“I think we’ll have to wait and see,” Fischler said.
