HDTV sales up, despite recession

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Despite the recession, a local electronics store is seeing an increase in plasma television sales.

Customers in HH Gregg, in Lafayette, aren't just shopping around. They are buying. General Manager Bill Emery said even though we're seeing massive layoffs, people still want a good TV.

"We've noticed a spike since the June 12 DTV transition of people's interest in high definition television as a whole category, whether it be LED, LCD or plasma technology," Emery said.

Emery said since the national switch from analog to digital, HDTV sales have increased by 15 to 20 percent. He attributes that to the sets dropping from $8,000 or $9,000, when they first came out, to around $500. But for some consumers, like Bob McKee who is adding to his new home, it's simple.

"I thought it would be nice to have a new TV, maybe. We'll just have to see what happens," said McKee, a Lafayette resident.

McKee and many other customers appreciate the better visual and audio quality HDTV provides, according to Emery. For McKee, he's hoping to stay brand loyal during his potential upgrade.

"Probably another Sony, but a flat screen. Whatever. I don't know much about it myself," McKee said.

At HH Gregg, Emery said as more and more plasma TVs sale, a new generation comes in the door. The LEDTV. This newer television offers less energy consumption, no mercury and no lead and takes up less space. The width is 1.2 inches, which is smaller than the remote that controls it.

"When you look at them from a performance standpoint, whether it be how fast they can display motion or just the brightness in general or whether you look at it from an energy consuming standpoint. Everything about these new LED and the newer style plasma televisions is just something that people are very interested in," Emery.

But some folks are sticking with tube televisions, like this one, that now requires a converter box if the TV used an analog signal.

Emery said he still gets at least five questions a day about the DTV switch.

"Auto-programming of channels. That's really under your set-up menu. You'll notice auto-program. Generally, depending on the type of television, it's a right bump of the arrow. It does take a lot of time to do that. I want customers to be aware that it's about a 20 to 25 minute process to really program all of those over the air digital channels," said Emery.