Matsushita to launch 103-inch TV

The largest plasma screen TV in the world is on its way

Japan's Matsushita is planning to sell the world's largest plasma screen TV by the end of this year.

Matsushita, which owns the Panasonic brand, says it has already taken orders from the US for the 103-inch panel TVs.

Only 20% of the customers for the monster screen will be TV viewers, Matsushita said.

Businesses that need electronic billboards will account for many of the 5,000 units Matsushita hopes to sell every year.

Korean rivals

The company is the world's largest plasma TV maker and competes with South Korean electronics giants Samsung and LG.

Samsung has already developed a 102-inch plasma screen TV but has not launched this onto the market.

The price of the super-size screen has not been revealed, but Matsushita's existing 65-inch screen costs $7,500 in Japan.

The arrival of this huge TV screen has been prompted by the growing size of LCD TVs, which are encroaching on the traditional territory of plasma screens and forcing firms like Matsushita to scale up their plasma displays.