MUMBAI: Colour TV sales during the World Cup season are likely to touch the two million mark.

This market estimate should come as specially good news after the post festive season of Diwali sales plummeted four per cent . The news is not as bright for black and white TV sets though, which are expected to register only a marginal increase.

With CTV sales poised to shoot by 40 per cent during the world Cup, manufacturers are geared up to cease the market by flooding it with World Cup special offers

While LG Electronics is one of the official sponsors for the event, South Korean rival Samsung is also hoping to ride the wave of cricket interest with increased sales. The other TV companies are also hoping to cashing in on the world cup frenzy.

While official sponsor LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. has earmarked a budget of whooping Rs 350 million for its consumer promotion 'World Cup Pass Chahiye' offer. The unique aspect of the campaign running from 5 January till 28 February is unlike any other world cup special offer. The company will be offering free passes for the Cricket World Cup to the lucky few and not just tickets to South Africa.

With every purchase of consumer electronics or home appliance product and 17 inch Colour Monitor from LG, the consumers has a chance to participate in the contest. The prizes include over 701 lucky prizes ranging from a Gold Pass and 600 silver passes for the World Cup matches and 100 limited edition LG products besides assured gifts.

The gold pass would entitle the winner an opportunity to attend all the World Cup matches in South Africa along with a friend/family member. The Silver Pass, on the other hand, would enable its winner to watch an individual match during the World Cup matches. The airfare and the hospitality for the winners of these passes would be taken care of entirely by the company.

According to an official release, company is targeting to achieve a sales turnover of Rs 9.2 billion, which amounts to a 60 per cent growth than the last year.

Meanwhile Sansui India, the Indian arm of Sansui Electronics Japan, announced its World Cup offer too. On purchase of a Sansui color television, customers get another television or a ten-band world radio or a VCD player free. Sansui offer will be closed on 31 January. The company expects to sell about 0.25 million CTVs during the World Cup season.

Philips India on the other hand is utilizing the world cup season to launch its new models targeted at the new emerging up-market segment. The company is also set to market flat CTVs, Plasma and Projection CTVs aggressively. Amongst the just launched is a new top-of the line range of Pixel Plus CTVs with Pixel Technology.

The electronics manufacturers expect to register a 100 per cent growth in the during the world cup first quarter. The company has budgeted around 1.2 billion for advertising and marketing during world cup. According to the media reports, the company expects to sell 150 to 160,000 units of CTVs.

Another electronic consumer goods manufacturers with innovative marketing strategy on hand is Onida. The company has seized the world cup opportunity fillip its sales. According to the television commercial currently on air, all Onida colour televisions bought during the festive offer period have a four year warranty. They have called this a offer a World cup to World cup offer.

Even the homebred Videocon has targeted world cup as an opportunity to increase their sales with their 'Khel ke Dekho' offer. The company has reserved a 1.1 billion as its world cup offer budget. According to media reports, company expected to sell about 450 thousand CTVs. The rural sale is expected to grow up by 50-55 per cent.