Sears Doubles Its Selection of Plasma, LCD Televisions

[Gregg Lengling]

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, Roebuck and Co.
announced today it is doubling the number of plasma and liquid crystal display
(LCD) TV models it offers, as well as the number of brands it carries.
    Sears now carries 22 plasma and LCD TV models, including eight plasma TV
models from seven manufacturers: Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer,
Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Plasma TV screen sizes range from 32- to 50-inches.
And beginning in August, Sears will also sell a TechView plasma TV at the
opening price point of $2,999. Sears introduced its plasma and LCD TV products
in September, 2002 and carried three brands of plasma TVs at that time.
    When the expansion is completed in August, shoppers will be able to
compare 14 different models of LCD TVs at Sears from seven brands: Philips,
Samsung, Sharp, Sylvania, Sony, TechView and Toshiba.  Sears will sell LCD
screen sizes ranging from 13-inches to 30-inches, with prices beginning at
$399. Plasma prices range from $2,999 to $9,999 and reflect a 50 percent
decline since September 2002 when the lowest-priced plasma TV sold at Sears
was $5,999.
    "With prices of thin-screen plasma and LCD high-definition televisions
decreasing rapidly, more consumers are able to experience these products,"
said Lyle Heidemann, executive vice president of home and off-mall stores for
Sears.
    "Plasma and LCD TVs have incredible 'stopping power' in our stores. Sears
is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this trend and Sears is one of the
only national retailers where consumers can compare a high-definition picture
side-by-side with a traditional analog signal."
    Plasma TV screens are about four-inches deep -- light and thin enough to
hang on the wall.  These products are the next level of home entertainment
technology, combining high definition (HDTV) picture quality with ultra-thin
design.
    Sears will display its expanded selection of plasma and LCD TVs with home
theater systems to give consumers the complete surround sound experience when
shopping for and comparing products.  Sears carries home theater system brands
such as Bose, JVC, Nakamichi and Sony.
    Sears first introduced its selection of plasma and LCD brands in September
2002 in more than 650 of its stores.  In August 2003, all 870 Sears full-line
stores will carry at least one plasma and LCD TV model, with the widest
selection available at 650 of Sears' largest stores.
    Research conducted by Sears indicates that 63 percent of Americans spend
more time watching TV together than they do any other major family activity
and 71 percent said they would rather stay home and watch TV with friends and
family than go out for the evening.
    "The electronics industry anticipates growth in the plasma and LCD market.
Sales of plasma sets will rise by 40 percent in 2003, while sales of LCD
televisions will jump from 965,000 units in 2002 to 1.1 million units in
2003," said Jeff Joseph, vice president of communications for the Consumer
Electronics Association.

    About Sears Consumer Electronics
    Only Sears sells the top eight brands of big screen TVs and offers:
    *  Its notable customer service, including knowledgeable sales staff
    *  Competitive financing options through Sears cards that offer exclusive
       advantages
    *  Price match guarantees
    *  The largest technical service team in the country
    *  Three installation packages*
    *  The most comprehensive protection agreements in the industry

    Sears also offers over 55 models of projection TVs (PTVs) that are
high-definition-ready, with prices beginning at $1,399. This assortment of
PTVs includes more than 10 models of new thin micro PTVs with screen sizes
ranging from 42- to 60-inches. Manufactured by Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips,
Samsung and Sony, micro PTVs create a picture using LCD, Digital Light
Processing (DLP) and Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) projection technology.
Micro PTVs are as thin as 16.3 inches, about one inch thinner than a 19-inch
tube TV, and weigh only 70 pounds on average.
    Sears carries a wide array of home theater equipment, including DVD
players, VCRs, video game consoles and home-theater-in-a-box solutions.  In
addition, Sears provides a wide variety of electronics to use on-the-go and in
the car, such as camcorders, cameras, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), MP3
players, car stereo equipment and satellite radio from XM Satellite and
Sirius.

    About Sears
    Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a broadline retailer with significant service
and credit businesses. In 2002, the company's revenues were more than
$41 billion.  The company offers its wide range of apparel, home and
automotive products and services to families in the U.S. through Sears stores
nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a
variety of merchandise and services through its Web sites, sears.com and
landsend.com, and a variety of specialty catalogs.

    *Installation professionals will conduct a pre-installation phone survey
to determine work to be performed and schedule your installation date. A site
survey will be conducted and, if applicable, any additional charges will be
quoted for approval prior to installation. All packages are for residential
installations. Premium installation packages assume adequate access to wall,
ceiling, or floor where wires are to be concealed. Additional charges will
apply for carpentry, electrical work, floor covering modifications, furniture
moving, additional wire, parts or accessories. For new purchases, delivery
available for additional charge.
    The following licenses are held by or on behalf of Sears, Roebuck and Co.:
AK (Gen. Contr. - Exc. Res. #675); AR (HVAC #145708); AZ (ROC013509); CA (Gen.
Bldg. Contr.  #025455 HVAC Class C-20); CT (HVAC #308530); FL (HVAC
#CAC057299); GA (Reg. CN-003489); HI (Classified Spec. #C-4285 C-68LA); KY
(HVAC #M03912); LA (Mech./Spec. Contr. #5526); MD (MHIC #32117; James Myzick,
HVAC #3942); NV (Plum. & Heating #0005543 C-1); Rockland County, NY Licensed
Subcontractors; OR (Gen. Contr. #0001051); TX (HVAC Lic. Nos. TACLB016247E,
009563C, 019005E, 002235C, 001268C, 009589C, 013523C); VA (Class A Contr.
#2705057009); WA (Gen. Contr. #SEARSR-372NT); WV (Gen. Bldg. Spec. #WV008529).
Some services and installation performed by Sears associates. Other services
and installation performed by Sears-Authorized licensed contractors;
additional Sears license information available upon request. Service not
available in all areas.