Rebirth of the K9

Those were the days: The original Philips K9 was launched on the New Zealand market in 1973 with a price tag of $1200. That might not sound bad, but multiply it by 10 for today's dollars. Wallpaper and fashions, of course, are priceless.

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A classic TV set of yesteryear is making a comeback, writes David Killick.

Think today's TVs are pricey? Not compared with the 1970s.

On October 31, 1973, New Zealanders switched onto colour television, and the first colour television they switched on was the Philips K9.

The K9 had a price tag of $1200 – about a third of an average one-year salary in that year. In 2008 dollars, that's a staggering $12,890.55! No wonder getting a new TV was such a big deal.

"Anticipating TV broadcasts in actual colour got many a housewife into a lather rearranging their lounges for the K9's impending arrival," says technology commentator Pat Pilcher, of Tone magazine.

"It became the new focal point of households, and the arrival of a K9 in a neighbourhood street was definitely an event.

"Kids flocked to your house, and parties were even held so that the whole street could watch New Zealand's only TV channel in full colour."

The Commonwealth Games, held in Christchurch in 1974, motivated more people to buy the new set.

"The original Philips K9s really were a thing of 1970s beauty. Most sported a genuine wood veneer cabinet and a whopping 21-inch screen, which was considered a revelation. Prior to that, 17-inch screens were considered massive. It shows just how far we've since moved on," says Pilcher.

Many original K9s are still going strong. One Christchurch owner, who only recently exchanged his K9, praised both the construction and the picture quality of the old cathode-ray tube set.

Philips is marking 35 years of colour television in New Zealand with all-new K9 television – a sleek LCD model. Recommended retail prices are $5999.99 for the 47-inch model and $4999.99 for the K9 42-inch model.

- © Fairfax NZ News