Palm-Sized Color TVs Unveiled

TOKYO — For TV viewers who cannot miss an episode of their favorite soap operas or for sports fans on the run, three Japanese companies today unveiled new pocket-sized color television sets that will go on sale next month.

Demand for the tiny televisions is growing at 10% to 30% a year, with total annual production--almost entirely Japanese--expected to hit 2 million units by next April, industry sources said.

Casio’s new hand-held model has a 2.7-inch screen and bunches all the control switches together on the right side. It will sell for $235.

Citizen Watch’s new LCD TV has a 2.9-inch screen with a rounded design. It also doubles as an AM/FM radio. Citizen plans a retail price of $242.

Marantz Japan unveiled a “hamburger-shaped” model with a 3-inch screen that it says can be viewed easily even in outdoor light. It plans to sell it for $396.