Entertainment 411 - October 2006

Shoppers Tune In For High Definition Television Prices PriceGrabber.com Research Highlights Consumers' Focus On Affordable, Quality televisions

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber.com(R), an Experian company, releases current shopping trends for high definition televisions (HDTV) in its latest Consumer Behavior Report. The current report surveys 2,200 online shoppers and includes information on their HDTV shopping behavior and preferences.

"Our savvy shoppers use PriceGrabber.com to research HDTV purchases online, finding the features they want at a price they are comfortable with. The survey results indicate that while shoppers are looking for a good deal, they still want to make a quality purchase and may spend more in order to make a purchase from a retailer they have heard of or transacted with in the past," said Michelle Kane, shopping pro for PriceGrabber.com.

Weighing the Options:

When purchasing high-ticket items like an HDTV, 60 percent of PriceGrabber.com shoppers named affordability as the most important factor in the decision-making process. Additionally, of the participants surveyed who do not currently own an HDTV, 58 percent said high cost is the main reason why they have not purchased one.

Twenty-four percent of respondents listed brand reputation as another factor involved in their decision, while only 16 percent said that screen size was a determining feature.

Bigger is Better:

Although HDTV shoppers have proven to be price conscious, the survey results show that when it comes to size, consumers are willing to spend the extra money. The majority of the respondents, at 29 percent, own an HDTV set ranging from 50 to 59 inches, which is typically priced at approximately $2,000. Other popular screen sizes among HDTV owners were 40 to 49 inches owned by 27 percent of those surveyed and 30 to 39 inches owned by 23 percent.

In the Market: Savvy Buyers:

There are many reasons why shoppers choose to invest in an HDTV. Survey results indicate that a drop in price is the leading factor that influences a consumer to purchase an HDTV. As HDTV prices continue to decline, 62 percent of potential buyers said they would be more inclined to take the plunge and make the purchase.

Other important motivations for customers in the market for an HDTV are improvements. Twenty-one percent of respondents selected picture and audio quality and 13 percent selected the continuous shift in TV programming from standard definition to high definition as additional motivators.

Simply the Best:

Popularity is another important element of consumers' decision-making process when considering an HDTV, and by tracking consumer searches on the Web site, PriceGrabber.com has determined the Top 10 Plasma and LCD TVs and their average prices.

   1.  Samsung LN-S3251D 32" LCD          $1,156
   2.  Panasonic TH-50PX60U 50" Plasma    $2,410
   3.  Samsung LNS4095D 40" LCD           $2,012
   4.  Sony Bravia KDL-40XBR2 40" LCD     $2,483
   5.  Sharp AQUOS LC-37D90U 37" LCD      $1,634
   6.  Sony KDL46S2000 46" LCD            $2,015
   7.  Samsung HP-S5053 50" Plasma        $2,292
   8.  Westinghouse LVM-42W2 42" LCD      $1,608
   9.  Samsung HP-S4253 42" Plasma        $1,626
   10. Sony KDL-40S2000 40" LCD           $1,569

View the full Consumer Behavior Report on HDTV shopping trends at mr.pricegrabber.com.

About PriceGrabber.com:

PriceGrabber.com, part of Experian Interactive(SM), has established itself as one of the most trusted and effective online comparison shopping services, allowing approximately 21 million consumers each month to search and compare information that enables them to find the right product from the right retailer at the best price. Through continued innovation and a consistent focus on providing the best comparison shopping experience on the Internet, PriceGrabber.com provides savvy shoppers access to millions of unique products and services from thousands of retailers and sellers in 22 product and service channels. The company also powers comparison shopping functionality for a network of leading Internet sites, including MSN Shopping, Ask.com, About.com and Comcast.

PriceGrabber.com is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. PriceGrabber is a registered trademark, and PriceGrabber.com and BottomLinePrice are trademarks of PriceGrabber.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Prices quoted above were taken from third-party merchant listings on the PriceGrabber.com Web site. PriceGrabber.com disclaims any and all liability regarding the prices quoted for the stated products in this press release, including their accuracy and/or availability. PriceGrabber.com is in no way offering to the public the products at the prices quoted in this press release or otherwise.

About Experian:

Experian is a global leader in providing analytical and information services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE-100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, California and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs more than 12,500 people in 32 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales are in excess of $3.1 billion.

For more information, visit the Group's Website at experiangroup.com.

The word "Experian" is a registered trademark in the EU and other countries and is owned by Experian Ltd. and/or its associated companies.