Well, I'm sure all our listeners would love to be brought up to date on the latest in tiny televisions.
It's an expanding market, that's for sure, and they seem to be getting smaller every year.
Which countries are dominating the market?
At the moment it's Japan, principally. In the spring of 1982 Sony introduced the Watchman?
Is that the Walkman?
No, the Watchman is a portable black and white TV set with a tiny screen and aerial.
How big is the whole thing?
Oh, I'd say about 35 cm by 12 cm and it weighs only a couple of kilograms.
Was it a success from the start?
Funnily enough, a Sony executive said that no one would want to watch a TV while walking around-and also a slightly larger model could be bought for half the price!
Really?
But, despite this pessimistic view, sales of this model far outnumbered projections.
Well, you never can tell! How big was the initial production?
The company started with 2,000 units per month and increased to 5,000 by the end of 1982, but they still couldn't keep up with the demand.
So I suppose they upped the production levels even higher.
It was much more radical than that! In the spring of 1983 Sony pulled out all the stops and launched the Watchman all over again with a new model.
Oh, what's it like?
Well, it's 20 per cent smaller and the price is 25 percent less...
Mmmm.
and the components were designed from scratch.
And what about production levels?
They quadrupled to 20,000 units a month just for the Japanese market!
Wow! The Watchman certainly seems to have taken off.
Indeed it has.
And I believe there were other Japanese companies as well.
Yes. At the end of 1982 Hattori-that's H-A-T-T-O-R-I--you know, the makers of Seiko watches-well, they unveiled an even smaller TV, around 3era, which is built into a wrist-watch.
Incredible!
It certainly is. The rest of the set is carried separately in your pocket and it's about the size of a packet of kingsize cigarettes.
And how does it work?
It has a liquid crystal display screen. The TV receiver and battery pack fit into your pocket, and they're connected by a cord to the watch.
Is there a headphone?
Oh, yes, that's plugged into the receiver as well.
Seems a bit complicated, that one, with all the wires and bits and pieces.
Yes, it does.
Any other Japanese models?
Yes, Casio-that's C-A-S-I-O. Their latest is a calculator-sized TV about one-third the bulk of the Watchman and with 1983 production figures of 2000 units a month.
I see.
And, according to a spokesman, they hope to match their calculator sales, which are about 25 million units per year.
Very impressive. And no doubt other Japanese companies will jump on the bandwagon.
Most likely.
Now, could you tell us about other countries making these tiny TVs?
Of course. From Sinclair in England there's one similar in size to the Casio, and their production levels were 1 million for 1983.
Obviously they're planning on backing a winner!
How right you are. A representative said they expect a mass-market response, not just a novelty item.
And just which market are the manufactures aiming at?
Mainly the commuters who spend hours going to and from work. These TVs will provide relief from the monotonous train and bus rides.
Well, thank you for keeping us in touch with this extremely popular gadget.
My pleasure, and happy viewing to all of you with those TVs.