Belying industry expectations, the colour television market registered a moderate 8.9 per cent growth between January-November last year to touch 65.7 lakh (6.57 million) units, according to the latest data by market research agency ORG.

While the top three positions in the industry remained with LG, Samsung and Onida, Videocon International's Sansui brand inched up to the fourth position even as erstwhile market leader BPL could not find a place among the top four.

However, even as the mass market registered moderate growth, the flat TV segment grew almost 100 per cent during the period under review, with Samsung taking the numero uno position at over 24 per cent market share.

Sony followed with 22.5 per cent share of the flat television market whereas LG was a close third with 22.2 per cent market share, as per ORG data.

ORG placed the overall market share of the first four brands during January-November 2003 at LG (18.1%), Samsung (15.1%), Onida (11.2%) and Sansui (8.8%).

When contacted, Samsung India director R Zutshi said the company expects flat TV contribution to total sales to touch 35 per cent from 22 per cent at present.

He said the company was ready to launch the biggest flat panel range with new models of plasma, LCD, LCD projection and 100 hertz flat CTVs having the patented DNie technology.