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Sears Indentifies Top-Three TV Trends

HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. —

Sears
sees larger screens, greater access
to IP content and more affordable 3D
models as the top three trends in TV
this year.

The chain is providing its insights to
consumers in advance of the NCAA
men’s basketball tournaments, a major
TV viewing and shopping event, and
as manufacturers roll out their new
2011 lines.

“As anticipation mounts for the upcoming
March basketball tournament,
Sears wants to share its point of view
and help customers navigate the selection
of 2011 TVs to find their perfect sets
in time for game day,” said Karen Austin,
president of consumer electronics for
Sears Holdings. “This year, Sears shoppers
will see more Internet connectable,
3D-capable and larger-screen TVs than
ever before.”

Indeed, Internet-connectable sets
that provide instant access and constant
connectivity are this year’s No. 1
trend in TVs, Sears said. The retailer
noted that roughly 85 percent of its TV
assortment will be Internet connectable
in 2011, with features and applications
that include web surfing, instant messaging
and streaming content. The latter,
encompassing thousands of movies
and TV shows, is available for sale or
rent on select sets at Sears and Kmart
via the company’s Alphaline Entertainment
digital service, provided by Rovi/
Sonic Solutions’ Powered By RoxioNow
platform.

IPTV models at Sears include Panasonic’s
TC-P50X3 50-inch plasma with
Easy IPTV, and Samsung’s 46-inch
UN46D6300 LED TV with full web
browsing.

Sears cited a wider selection of LED,
LCD and plasma panels in 50-inch
and larger screen sizes as the second
major trend in TV this year, but advises
customers to also consider bezel
width. Apart from cosmetic value and
seamless display, choosing a TV with a
slim bezel will often translate to a bigger
picture and overall screen size, the
chain said.

The third major TV trend is a “rethinking”
of 3D. Customers can look forward
to the price points of 3D-capable TVs
dropping to those of many 2010 2Donly
models, the company noted, while
more 3D content will become available,
including sporting event broadcasts
and new video game introductions.

What’s more, 2D up-convert functionality,
an added benefit on most new
3D-capable TVs, will allow consumers
to watch a 2D broadcast in 3D, while
the advent of passive-3D technology
will make viewing by large groups more
affordable.

Sears said it is “amplifying” its assortment
of 3DTVs this year in anticipation
of increased adoption. New models
include Samsung’s 55-inch 240Hz
LED 3D TV with full web browsing
(model UN55D7000), and Samsung’s
Plasma+ series 51-inch 3D TV (model
PN51D550).

Sears is also offering special
36-month financing and free delivery on
select Samsung and Panasonic models.

The company is providing its TV
guidance to consumers on the Sears
Consumer Electronics dedicated blog
post at

http://www.mysears.com/mysears_
blog/6-television-technologytrends-for-2011

. The information is also
posted on three

Sears.com

microsites,
including

www.sears.com/connectedtv

,

http://alphaline.roxionow.com

and

www.sears.com/3dtv

.

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