The government decided Tuesday to keep the Eco-point program in place until the end of next year, extending the program that was scheduled to expire at the end of March.
The program is designed to promote the sales of energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and televisions capable of receiving high-quality terrestrial digital broadcasting by giving buyers points that can be exchanged for gift tickets and other perks.
The extension is expected to stimulate demand for the TVs, especially during the yearend shopping season next year ahead of a complete shift from analog to digital broadcasting in July 2011, government officials said.