Fans missing World Cup in high definition
Posted by DavidM in World Cup | 11 June 2006
Market research company GfK has revealed that despite the wettest May in 23 years the "consumer durables market" has been positive - due to the effect of the World Cup.
In particular the build up to the competition has seen a huge rise in TV sales. In May, sales of TVs were 80% higher than in May 2005. And football fans seem determined to see the games in the highest possible quality.
Sales of LCD TVs were up by 233% and 364,000 flat panel TVs have been sold, worth £250m - up from less than £100m for the same period last year.
Gfk also showed that much of this is coming from the internet which is growing much faster than the High Street.
However, fans are having less luck with viewing the tournament in High Definition. Friends have reported that although they placed their orders for Sky's HD boxes well in advance of the World Cup their delivery dates are well into the competition schedule.
Sky are even reported to have offered customers £20 to delay their delivery date. A bit of a balls up for the biggest opportunity to gain mass take-up of a new technology.
