Do TV Shoppers Net Super Bowl Savings?

Jan. 29, 2008 — -- As football fans across the country debate the merits of the undefeated New England Patriots and the underdog New York Giants, gearheads and Super Bowl party hosts have their own internal debate: whether to buy a big television for the big game.

Traditionally, during the two weeks before the Super Bowl, sales of TVs spike across the nation, along with online and in-store promotions, to get consumers spending. But experts debate whether there are actual bargains to be had in the weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.

"Any discussion about bargains in consumer electronics is almost always an urban legend," NPD's vice president of industry analysis Stephen Baker told ABCNEWS.com. "There may be some promotional deals where you can get better financing, or an installation deal. Overall, those are the same kinds of deals that retailers will run during high traffic times."

Bargains or not, that doesn't keep people from buying TVs just before the Super Bowl.

"Last year, sales were up 50 percent [the week before the Super Bowl] from the previous week," Baker said. "Clearly, as we get closer to the Super Bowl, people buy more televisions and buy more big screen ones."

But the savings aren't the only driving force for buying a TV. The Super Bowl itself seems to be enough of an event to get people into stores, even so close to the holiday shopping season. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the game will prompt the purchase of 2.4 million HDTVs.

"There's nothing to the big game [without] a big screen," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at Jupiter Research. "A consumer that may have been sitting on the fence, and really wants to see that game in high definition, is definitely going to be attracted by bargains."

According to Gartenberg, the weeks before the Super Bowl are a great time to make the big purchase.

"Manufacturers are looking for ways to get rid of the old stock, and make room for the new," he said. "Consumers can really pick up some good deals before new models come out."