It may not go very well until the Summer.  The new models are on their way to retail shelves and online.  It usually takes a few months for enough stores to have them in stock for the price dropping to commence.  If stores became flush by March it will take until July before prices get low enough on the newer sets and older sets have been cleared out for things to start heading in the right direction.

This may be why Panasonic is spending $100 million dollars to help promote their televisions.  Vizio and Samsung are always sponsoring sports events to make sure people remember that they look better on one of their sets.  Other brands may get even more creative to help with awareness and promotion.

Here what they should be doing:

Pressuring retail partners to drop prices on older models – The 2009 models need to go.  It would be better to create a shortage than to have a glut of televisions.  When Nintendo put out the Wii originally they loved all the press coming from people who weren’t able to get their hands on one.

Start talking up 2010 features - Verizon is running commercials on the East Coast about how their FIOS service allows you to contact people through Facebook.  I may not ever get the service but I thought it was a great add-on since so many people are addicted to contacting people and catching up with them.  If your 2010 models connect to the web, show the televisions online, if the black levels are deeper  – show the difference.  There are lots of brands and models out there.  It will be easier to get lost.

Drop prices on 2010 models quickly – MSRPs are a joke and everyone knows it.  Tell retailers that if they move X% more units than they did for 2009 models they’ll get a bonus.  When I see Amazon advertise a television it instantly becomes a best seller.

I’m considering selling my “old” 1080p Sony BRAVIA and getting something new but until I see a reason to upgrade I’m going to just on the sidelines.  Chances are that there are lots of other people in the same situation.

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