The world’s most celebrated football tournament is set to start in 18 days, and the authorised distributors of international TV brands are offering attractive schemes targeting soccer enthusiasts in Nepal. Skyworth, Hisense and LG have launched new TV models and different schemes with an eye on the World Cup. FIFA World Cup 2018 is scheduled to be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.

Smart Appliance Company, a subsidiary of the KL Dugar Group, recently launched Wallpaper TV, a slim television set from Skyworth. In a bid to entice soccer fans to buy new television sets to watch the World Cup matches, Smart Appliances has offered a 25 percent discount on Skyworth TV sets. The company has also launched Google Android TV and multi-functional tea table from the brand.

The scheme is valid around the country.

Prasant Acharya, regional manager (sales and marketing) of Hisense, which is also one of the official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup, said that the company was conducting sales campaigns in different places targeting the World Cup.

The company offers cash back of up to 30 percent on LED televisions. The company also has scratch card and lucky draw schemes where winning customers can take home microwaves, LED TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

TV sales have doubled this World Cup season compared to the 2014 World Cup, Acharya said. “Affordable prices, upgraded technology and digital channels have led to a boost in TV sales this year,” he added. The company expects to sell 2,500 to 3,000 televisions during this World Cup season.

According to Acharya, 50 percent of the customers prefer 32-inch LED TV, 20 to 25 percent prefer 39 to 43-inch TV, 10 to 16 percent prefer 49 to 60-inch TV and the remaining 10 percent prefer wall TV. Meanwhile, Sanjay Rajbhandary, marketing communications and brand management head at CG Electronics, is hopeful that the LG brand TVs will sell well

during the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza. Rajbhandary added that the company saw

good TV sales during the 2014 World Cup.

“We have aimed to sell 30 percent more TVs this season. Our major focus will be on the 43, 49 and 55-inch segment for the LG brand.” Also, the company will be focusing on TV brands like LG, CG, TCL and Sensei under CG Electronics.

The company is seeing very good demand for TCL Curved TVs in the 49 and 55-inch segment. According to Rajbhandary, people’s preferences are shifting to 32-inch and larger sets.

People also go for the 43-inch and smart segment.

There is a whole bunch of customers upgrading to the 49-inch and larger segments. “Upgrading to smart TV is growing unbelievably fast,” he said. “All smart TV heavyweights are set to engage in a battle royale during the FIFA World Cup 2018.”

The company plans to reveal a large communication campaign very soon.