Report Says 8% YoY Worldwide TV Shipment in the First Quarter

Market research organization NPD DisplaySearch released the latest report, said that in the first quarter of global television shipments fell 8% over the same period last year, setting the highest decline in this sector since February 2009.

The report also shows that the sales of LCD TVs in the first quarter also fell 3% year-on-year, which is the first time that this product has experienced a year-on-year decline in quarterly sales. During the quarter, LCD TV sales were 43 million units, while total TV sales were 51 million units.

Paul Gagnon, head of North American television research at NPD DisplaySearch, said in a statement: “Demanding weak demand and cautious expectations for many parts of the television supply chain in the coming year are the reasons for the decline in shipments. Prices of major components such as LCD panels are not expected to drop sharply in mid-2012, and many brands are currently focused on improving their own profitability, both of which will result in a price-conscious consumer market. The result of the decline in shipments."

In the first quarter, the average size of LCD TV displays increased by 5% over the same period of last year and exceeded 35 inches for the first time. Sales of LCD TVs with LED backlighting accounted for 56% of total sales, up from 51% in the fourth quarter of last year. Plasma TV sales fell 18% year-on-year, sales of old-fashioned CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) fell 31% year-on-year, and 3D TV sales increased 14% from the same period last year.

China is the largest market for television. In the first quarter, TV sales in the Chinese market accounted for about 20% of global sales, but TV sales in this market fell 4% from the same period last year.

Samsung was the top TV brand in the quarter with a market share of 26%; LG ranked second with 14.6%.