Old TV's get the red card as world cup looms

AS FOOTBALL fans warm up for the World Cup, many are preparing to give the red card to their old TV sets.

With hours of action ahead in the next few weeks, armchair fans will be deciding which of the numerous new types of telly available that they will select for the South African adventure. With HD, LCD, 3D and Quattron available, many will be tempted to make a new signing- relegating their old tellies to the skip.

Basil Knipe, who runs an electrical shop in Ballymoney, has noticed an increase in sales in the run up to the tournament.

“People definitely are choosing to upgrade their sets. Many are doing so because of the World Cup.

“There are a wide range of new technologies available. One of the most popular with football fans is the Samsung 3D model which is amongst the first 3D sets available in Northern Ireland. It has just arrived here in the past couple of weeks,” he said.

It would appear that for many fans, bigger is better. Basil reports increases in sales of the huge 60 inch sets. But the size issue can put some of the couples buying televisions on opposing sides. While some of the men get carried away in the excitement, their wives are more cautious about the size of screen necessary for the family home. “Some of the women aren’t so keen on the largest screens, although they may be tempted by the competitive prices available on those sets at the moment” Basil said.

However, before the whistle is blown on the idea of a new acquisition, Basil thinks it would be a good idea to look at the long term game. As soon as the football is over, there will be plenty of time for the whole family to appreciate the new addition. And some of the technology available will change the way we watch television forever.

“There is a lot of great new technology on the market at the moment. We have 3D televisions, where you can watch certain events like sport or movies in three dimensions with a special pair of glasses. And when you don’t fancy wearing the glasses you can go back to the normal 2D” Basil said.

“In the past few weeks we have the world’s first ‘four colour pixel’ TV known as the Quattro in stock. This gives us colours we will never have seen before on our screens” he added. With all this technology available, we will be able to see events in the Rainbow Nation in almost as much colour and detail as if we were there ourselves.

And unlike the players on the pitch, as soon as you make the deal, you can guarantee the performance for three to five years. Now that is a result.