Date:04/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040401790200.htm

Kerala

A double blow

Large sporting events usually mean larger sales of television sets.

But the cricket World Cup in the Caribbean is not something only the Indian team, which made an ignominious exit, would want to forget; the television manufacturers too wouldn't remember this particular World Cup fondly.

The increase in the sales of television sets has been negligible, according to G. Hareesh Kumar, who has been working in this industry for the last 10 years. "Things have never been this bad; the sales normally pick up considerably during all major sporting events, such as the Olympics and the cricket and football World Cups," says Hareesh.

"Just when the sales began to improve a bit, out went the Indian team and, with that, the chances of improving the top line of television dealers. This has been a double blow for us, really."

P. K. AJITH KUMAR