Discounted 4K TVs among early holiday shopping deals
TV makers and retailers added cutting-edge 4K Ultra High Definition TVs to their Black Friday promotions for the first time as a new way to spur early holiday shopping traffic.
This time last year, the first wave of so-called 4K TVs carried stratospheric prices of $7,000 or more. Two years ago, the initial models were priced at $20,000 or more.
Starting Thursday, Best Buy will have a 55-inch Samsung Ultra HD 4K Smart TV for $899.99, a price cut of $500, as a door-buster bargain. It's the first time the retailer has offered a Samsung 4K set for less than $1,000.
Best Buy will also have bargains on 4K models from LG, Sony and Vizio. The new high-end TVs - they deliver four times the resolution of HDTVs and are known as 'Ultra HD' or UHD - were among the bright selling spots in the retailer's third-quarter earnings reported last week.
Interest in the improved video quality that 4K displays provide could entice customers to visit the retailer, which is looking for a better holiday season than last year's, said Brian Sozzi, chief equities strategist at Belus Capital Advisors. 'Consumers are showing interest,' he said
Sales of 4K TVs have risen ninefold over last year, according to the NPD Group. Consumers are spending more for them, on average $2,400, compared with an average price of $450 for traditional HDTVs.
Interest in 4K TVs is higher this holiday season because shoppers better understand the improved image quality the sets deliver, says Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis.
Prices have declined even faster than for HDTVs, which debuted a decade ago, says Shawn DuBravac, chief economist for the Consumer Electronics Association. 'Promotions during Black Friday should both improve consumer's awareness of the technology, as well as accelerate the uptake of the technology,' he said.
Nearly every electronics retailer and most discounters are getting in on the 4K action this holiday shopping weekend. '4K is red hot right now. You can buy it for less than a regular HDTV,' says Tom Campbell, technologist for Video and Audio Center. 'In two years, you won't be able to give away a regular HDTV.'
Among the holiday weekend deals the L.A.-area chain has starting Thursday at 4 p.m. PT are brand-name 4K displays starting at $597 for a 40-inch model..
LG Electronics 65-inch Ultra HD 4K TV.(Photo: LG Electronics)
Other outlets with 4K deals:
*Amazon has Sharp's 60-inch AQUOS 4K Ultra HD display priced at $1,799.99, a $500 discount through Cyber-Monday. For Black Friday, the online retailer has marked down several Samsung displays.
*HH Gregg has the Sharp display, as well as LG, Sony and Samsung 4K displays discounted through Saturday. LG's 55-inch and 65-inch UHD models are $1,298 and $1,998. A Sony 55-inch model is priced at $1,498.
*Target has a 49-inch LG Electronics 4K display priced at $999.99, a $250 markdown separate from its Black Friday promotion.
*Walmart has a 50-inch Vizio UHD display marked down by $300 to $698 and an online-only deal of a 55-inch Samsung UHD display for $1,298 (both while supplies last, starting Thursday).
TV makers 'are getting aggressive' with lower prices as they improve 4K production, says Dave McGlade, chairman and CEO of Intelsat, which delivers content via satellite for broadcasters and pay-TV providers.
But there aren't a lot of 4K movies and TV shows to watch, says McGlade, who expects the content to increase over the next three to four years.
For now, Netflix and M-Go provide Net-delivered content - Amazon is likely to join in by year's end - and DirecTV recently began some 4K offerings. TV makers sell hard drives packed with 4K movies that connect to the sets. 4K TVs also will convert standard content, so it looks better than HD.
Not ready to spring for 4K? Retailers will have other bargains to tempt you. Best Buy has a 50-inch Panasonic HDTV for $199.99 today and Friday.
'Black Friday is about great TV deals, but the truth is our customers can get amazing prices on the very best TV brands right now,' said Luke Motschenbacker, director of Best Buy's TV business.
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