Global TV Market Continues to Recover Jun 2, 2010

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TV shipments continued to show a strong rebound in growth rates from the very weak levels of early 2009 according to data from the DisplaySearch Quarterly Advanced Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report.

Total TV shipments increased 25% year-on-year in Q1 2010 to 55 million units, with LCD TV shipments showing a 50% Y/Y improvement to more than 40 million units, very close to expected levels. Other TV technologies showed strong results. Plasma TV shipments were up 21% Y/Y to 3.4 million units. CRT TVs, which averaged 40% Y/Y shipment declines during most of 2009, had a decline of only 21% in unit shipments, with demand in emerging markets for TVs ahead of the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament giving this old technology a boost.

DisplaySearch noted that even mature flat panel TV markets had strong results in the first quarter of 2010.

Japan: A government stimulus program, the green Eco-Points initiative, is credited with strong shipments in Japan, where the transition from CRT to flat panel TV was completed several years ago. Japan showed a 93% Y/Y increase in LCD TV shipments and a 38% increase in plasma shipments.

Europe: The upcoming World Cup and digital TV transition in several European countries drove a 33% Y/Y increase in TV shipments during the quarter as brands and retailers prepared for the increased level of demand.

“Not all regions saw such strong growth though, as North America TV shipments increased just 1% Y/Y, although demand certainly seems to have been stronger than supply during Q1,” noted Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Market Research for DisplaySearch. “As TV brands faced a tight supply situation, it seems that brands made some tough choices on where to allocate product, opting for more profitable regions like Europe and Japan where competition and margin pressure isn’t as intense.”

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