More sales expected for LCD televisions

As the commercial rivalry heats up, prices of liquid crystal display TVs are tumbling, threatening to slice into the market dominated by plasma TVs, a U.S.-based researcher said yesterday. According to market researcher DisplaySearch, LCD TVs are likely to have more than a 50 percent worldwide market share in 2008, up from 30 percent last year. Plasma and LCD TVs are fast replacing the traditional cathode-ray tube screens. Currently plasma TVs are more popular in sizes above 40 inches, while LCD TVs have more sales in the 30-inch range, where the price gap has narrowed. LCD TVs offer enhanced resolution and richer colors than conventional screens, but their major defect has been after-images and limited viewing from the sides ― and higher prices. Plasma sets have been able to deliver larger screen sizes at cheaper costs. Last year, plasma TV sets over 40 inches had sales of almost 5 million units worldwide, while less than 350,000 units of LCD TVs were sold. But as the world’s top two display makers, LG Philips LCD Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., began mass production this month, the outlook for larger-sized LCD TV sales will be brighter starting this year, market watchers say. DisplaySearch projects LCD TV sales will reach 8 million by 2009, compared with PDP sales of 14 million. According to Kim Tae-hyung, an analyst at Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co., the average annual growth rate for LCD TVs during the period 2005-2007 will be 57 percent worldwide, while PDP TV sales will climb 36 percent each year. Though PDPs are expected to maintain their market dominance for the time being, market analysts say, competition has gotten more fierce in the big screen TV sector as LCD TV manufacturers aggressively reduce their product prices. by Seo Ji-eun