Q2 in TV sales was a mirror image of Q1, with revenues off 12% to $23.7 billion and shipments off 8% to 44.6 million units, according to the latest results from the DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. Not all the technologies fared equally well. LCD TVs showed strong unit growth, while other technologies fell.
Flat panel TV devices of all technologies took 74% of the global TV market up from 68% in Q1’09 to partly due to continued TV price erosion, with street prices falling 22% on average. Most of the gains were in LCD TVs, rather than plasma or any other technologies.
Although LCD panel production has temporarily gone down due to stock surpluses which triggered factory slow downs and job cuts, actual LCD TV shipments continued to grow, rising 27% over last year to 30 million units. Plasma market share increased about half a percent to 7% while CRT share plummeted from 32% to 26% on a unit basis. Both North America and China reached record shipment levels.
‘LCD TV market growth remains impressive, gaining market share from incumbent technologies like CRT at a quickening pace despite higher prices and a tight supply situation in Q2’09’ noted Paul Gagnon, Director of TV North America TV Market Research at DisplaySearch. ‘Advanced technologies like high frame-rate LCDs and 1080p resolutions also continued to increase in market share as the price premium narrows, even in these tough economic times.’
North America took back the top position among global regions for TV shipments on a unit basis, reaching more than 10 million units shipped for the quarter. North America reclaimed the crown from China where unit shipments fell 10% from last quarter. Western Europe continues to experience weakness with total units declining 3% year over year.
On a brand basis, Samsung remained the global brand share leader in revenues for the 14th straight quarter, rising to a record revenue share of 23% and also hitting a record unit share of 18.2%. LGE remained in second place after overtaking Sony in Q1.