The Indian Audio Market
The Indian audio market pyramid is featured by the traditional radios forming its lower bulk. Besides
this, there are four other distinct segments: mono recorders (ranking second in the pyramid), stereo
recorders, midi systems (which offer the sound amplification of a big system, but at a far lower price
and expected to grow at 25% per year) and hi-fis (minis and micros, slotted at the top end of the
market).
Today the Indian audio market is abound with energy and action as both national and international
majors are trying to excel themselves and elbow the others, ushering in new concepts, like CD sound,
digital tuners, full logic tape deck, etc. The main players in the Indian audio market are Philips, BPL
and Videocon. Of these, Philips is one of the oldest and is considered at the leading national brands. In
fact it was the first company to introduce a range of international products such as CD radio cassette
recorder, stand alone CD players and CD mini hi-fi systems. With the easing of the entry barriers, a
number of new international players like Panasonic, Akai, Sansui, Sony, Sharp, Goldstar, Samsung and
Aiwa have also entered the arena. This has led to a sea of changes in the industry and resulted in an
expanded market and a happier customer, who has access to the latest international products at
competitive prices. The rise in the disposable income of the average Indian, especially the upperincome
section, has opened up new vistas for premium products and has provided a boost to
companies to launch audio systems priced as high as Rs. 50,000 and beyond.
Pricing across Segments
Super Premium Segment: This segment of the market is largely price-insensitive, as consumers are
willing to pay a premium in order to obtain products of high quality. Sonodyne has positioned itself in
this segment by concentrating on products that are too small for large players to operate in profitably.
It has launched a range of systems priced between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000. National Panasonic has
launched its super premium range of systems by the name of Technics.
Premium Segment: Much of the price game is taking place in this segment, in which systems are
priced around Rs. 25,000. Even the foreign players ensure that the pricing is competitive. Entry
barriers of yester years compelled the demand by this segment to be partially met by the grey market.
With the opening up of the market, the premium segment is witnessing a rapid growth and is
currently estimated to be worth Rs. 30 crores. Growth of this segment is also being driven by
consumers who want to upgrade their old music systems. Another major stimulating factor is the
plethora of financing options available, bringing more and more consumers to the market.
Philips has understood the Indian listener well enough to dictate the basic principles of segmentation.
It projects its products as high quality at medium price. In fact, Philips had successfully spotted an
opportunity in the wide price gap between portable cassette players and hi-fi systems and pioneered
the concept of a midi system (a three-in-one containing radio, tape deck and amplifier in one unit).
Philips has also realised that there is a section of the rich consumer which values not just power but
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also clarity and is willing to pay for it. The pricing strategy of Philips was to make the most of its image
as a technology leader. To this end, it used non-price variables by launching of a range of state of art
machines like the FW series, and CD players. Moreover, it came up with the punch line in its
advertisements as, “We Invent For You”.
BPL stands second only to Philips in the audio market and focuses on technology as its USP. Its kingpin
in the marketing mix is its high technology superior quality product. It is thus at being the productquality
leader. BPL’s proposition of fidelity is translated in its punchline for its audio systems as, ‘e-fi
your imagination’ (d-fi stands for digital fidelity). The company follows a market skimming strategy.
When a new product was launched, it was placed in the top end of the market, and priced accordingly.
The company offers a range of products in all price segments in the market without discounting the
brand.
Another major player, Videocon, has managed to price its products lower even in the premium
segment. The success of the Powerhouse (a 160 watt midi launched by Philips in 1990) had prompted
Videocon to launch the Select Sound range of midi stereo systems at a slightly lower price. At the
premium end, Videocon is making efforts to upgrade its image to being “quality-driven” by associating
itself with the internationally reputed brand name of Sansui from Japan, and following a perceived
value pricing method.
Sony is another brand which is positioning itself as a premium product and charges a higher price for
the superior quality of sound it offers. Unlike indulging into price wars, Sony’s ad-campaigns project
the message that nothing can beat Sony in the quality and intensity of sound. National Panasonic is
another player that has three products in the top end of the market, priced in the Rs. 21,000 to Rs.
32,000 range.
Monos and Stereos: Videocon has 21% share I the overall audio market, but has been a major player
only in personal stereos and two-in-ones. Its history is written with instances where it has offered
products of similar quality, but at much lower prices than its competitors. In fact, Videocon launched
the Sansui brand of products with a view to transform its image from that of being a manufacturer of
cheap products to that of being a company that primes quality, and also to obtain a share of the hi-fi
segment. Sansui is being positioned as a premium brand, targeting the higher middle, upper income
groups and also the sensitive middle class Indian consumer.
The objective of Philips in this segment is to achieve higher sales volumes and hence its strategy is to
expand its range and have a product in every segment of the market. The pricing method used by
Philips in this segment is providing value for money.
National Panasonic offers products in the lower end of the market, apart from the top of the range. In
fact, it reduced the price of one of its small two-in-ones from Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 2,400, with the logic that
a forte in the lower end of the market would help in building brand reliability across a wider customer
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Subject: Managerial Economics Marks: 100
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base. The company is also guided by the logic that operating in the price sensitive region of the market
will help it reach optimum levels of efficiency. Panasonic has also entered the market for midis.
These apart, there also exists a sector in the Indian audio industry, with powerful regional brands in
mono and stereo segments, having a market share of 59% in mono recorders and 36% in stereo
recorders. This sector has a strong influence on price performance.
Questions
1. What major pricing strategies have been discussed in the case? How effective these strategies
have been in ensuring success of the company?
2. Is perceived value pricing the dominant strategy of major players?
3. Which products have reached maturity stage in audio industry? Do you think that product
bundling can be effectively used for promoting sale of these products?
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