£50,000 plasma TV is widest in the world

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Panasonic plasma screen - a monstrous 103 inches (8ft 7in) wide - went on display at John Lewis in Oxford Street at the weekend.

It is claimed to be the world's biggest and costs £50,000 but if you thought that might include installation, think again.

It will cost as much as another £5,000 to get the quarter-ofatonne TV delivered and set up.

It is the only one in Britain and John Lewis does not expect to get many orders. John Kempner, John Lewis's central buyer for vision, said: "I can't imagine many people will find the room or be able to afford it. It's really there as a statement to show off what plasma technology can do and to say 'this is the ultimate'."

Asked who he thought were likely buyers, Mr Kempner said: "It will have to be someone with a huge house with a significant amount of money to spend and probably a home cinema - a Premiership footballer certainly comes to mind."

The screen takes pride of place among John Lewis's growing range of flat screens - its last traditional cathode ray tube TV was sold almost a year ago.

Sales have almost doubled since last year, with the most popular size increasing from 26in last year to 32in this year with the 37in model not far behind. Prices for a 32in screen have come down to between £750 and £1,250.

The Panasonic beats the former world record by an inch but an even bigger TV is expected to be on the market before too long.

But for anyone hoping to have one in time for Christmas Day, it is already too late. They have to be ordered from Panasonic's factory in Japan and there is a waiting time of at least three months.