The integrated CTV assembly lines has an installed capacity of 10,000 CTVs per day. The new plant would require only 10 per cent of the existing manpower but the company would rather relocate its surplus employees than retrench them, Videocon group chairman, Venugopal Dhoot said. The new facility, which was inaugurated by Toshiba Corp corporate vice-president, Sumitada Hatakeyama, on August 13 has the capacity to manufacture five lakh Internet TVs per annum with a built-in set of box.

The company's talks with the American firm, Telecruz for a new chip is at the MoU stage. This would enable Videocon to incorporate the new chip from Telecruz in its Internet TV in the next six months, Dhoot said.

The group had earlier initiated the launch of a nationwide dial-up ISP at an investment of Rs 130 crore by floating a wholly owned subsidiary. The plant would produce 30 per cent, 60 per cent and 10 per cent of its CTVs in the 14 inch, 20 inch and 25 inch and above segments respectively. Thirty per cent of the production at the new facility would be earmarked for exports while the rest would be for the domestic market, Dhoot added.

The company claims to have a market share of 19 per cent, 11 per cent, 7 per cent and and 2.5 per cent for its Videocon, Sansui, Akai and Toshiba CTV brands respectively. It has earmarked an advertising expenditure of Rs 130 crore this year, against Rs 120 crore last year, Dhoot said. The company is to launch an extensive "Aap Banoge Crorepati" scheme for its buyers as well as dealers. The scheme would be operational between August 16 and September 30, 2000.