The intense TV price wars of 2009's holiday season may look like kids' play if competition takes off this year the way some analysts expect.
In what could be an opening salvo, Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday that it will discount its stock on hand of certain flat-panel TVs at 8 a.m. Saturday for two days, or as long as supplies last.
The nation's largest retailer said Tuesday that a 26-inch Vizio LED HDTV, which was selling most recently for $298, will be $198; a 32-inch Vizio LCD HDTV will drop from $348 to $298; and a 55-inch Vizio LCD HDTV TV that was selling for $1,098 will be $898.
Sharp and LG Electronics, companies that make huge flat-screen televisions and LCD panel components, both alerted investors last week that demand is dropping in the U.S. and other developed markets.
The forecasts trickled out as these Asian electronics manufacturers reported earnings for the most recent fiscal quarter. And analysts expect TV sales to heat up this holiday season because of a growing glut.
A recent report from iSuppli, which tracks shipments of LCD panels and flat-screen televisions, showed the number of LCD panels for TVs shipped in April through June outstripping the number of TVs that were shipped.
The research firm said LCD panel buyers went on to cut orders in July, worsening the glut and pushing prices for LCD TVs down for early fall.
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