Not getting on a plane to Brazil for the
FIFA World Cup next week? Fret not.
With the right home entertainment system, your experience from the comfort of your couch in the earliest hours of the morning may be even better than in the overcrowded stadiums.
And with the kind of high-definition monitors now available, the experience is much more high-res than in 2010. Most popular brands such as LG, Samsung, Panasonic and Sony have in fact launched new models and campaigns with the global football extravaganza in mind.
“The World Cup has not yet started so the fever is yet to pick up, but customers are already making lots of inquiries,” said Ganesh Raj Pandey, sales manager of the Samsung division at Him Electronics.
Samsung recently launched the “Amazing Cash Back Football Offer” where they provide a cash back minimum of Rs 7,100 on the purchase of tvs worth Rs 31,990, and a maximum of Rs 3,15,100 on tvs worth Rs 11,99,990.
Likewise, Lalit Kumar Mishra at Chaudhary Group Electronics that distributes LG, TCL and Toshiba products, has seen a sharp growth in sales, and expects last-minute business in his showrooms before the tournament kicks off on 12 June.
Toshiba has also recorded increased sales in their smart tvs informs Assistant General Manager Sanjay Rajbhandari who attributes the growth to the FIFA momentum.
Like smart phones, these are tvs that are high-definition and internet capable so that you can bypass cable and watch the games via streaming video provided you have the bandwidth.
Football fanatics with deep pockets might be interested in LG’s 42LN5710, which costs Rs 90,000. As most World Cup matches are set to air live before dawn in Nepal, the 42-inch smart tv’s built-in ‘Time Machine’ capability allows users to record matches automatically. Alternatively, the Sony 32W700 (Rs 80,000) has a built-in chip called X-Reality PRO.
Binil R Bajracharya at Nepa Hima Trade Link explains: “In Nepal, most homes have analog and not digital transmission, so this chip helps reduce noise and enhance resolution to make the visuals look like it is digital.” The chip is also available in the Rs 58,000 not-smart Sony 32R426.
Bajracharya has reservations for smart tvs with recording capability because for the extra price-tag, he doesn’t think it is that useful.
“Prices go much higher for smart tvs with time machine capabilities,” he says.“But if people miss matches, they can always check out highlights on YouTube.”
Indeed, Nepal’s only direct-to-home (DTH) satellite provider (Dish Media) offers recording services but to USB drives that are sold separately. Dish Media will have HD visuals from the games, but you will need a HD-compatible tv.
Cable operators also provide standard definition coverage of the games through Kantipur TV, which has secured exclusive broadcasting rights in Nepal.
Do you really need a smart tv?
Executive Director of Shanker Group - sole distributor of Sharp electronics in Nepal - doesn’t necessarily think so. “People generally use smart tvs for videos on demand and YouTube,” he says. “We already have World Cup content on cable or by DTH technology. All you really need is good picture and good sound.”
While strong and dynamic visuals are paramount for football on television, the cheers and jeers from the stadium also serve to immerse viewers into the World Cup atmosphere.
Well aware of this, Sharp is promoting its 39LE440M, a 39-inch HD compatible LED tv (Rs 61,490) that comes with a 5.1 surround sound home theatre system (Rs 30,000).
Meanwhile, top-of-the-range Ultra-High Definition (UHD) tvs which have resolution four times standard HD are being left on the shelves due to their high price tags, and lack of UHD content. Only three World Cup matches will be filmed in UHD. Similarly, curved tvs, which are made to complement the human eye to create a natural viewing angle, have yet to find a foothold in the Nepali market.
Says Bajracharya: “The World Cup this time is good for business, because it screens so early.”
Read also:
When football comes home, Shobhan Saxena