Samsung to focus on higher-grade LED TVs in China

Samsung Electronics will focus more on the premium TV market in China, company executives said yesterday, in a move seen as being aimed at distinguishing itself from cheaper products made by Chinese manufacturers.

In the LCD display TV segment, the Korean tech giant will only sell light-emitting diode (LED) backlit TVs, and will discontinue sales of other kinds of LCD TVs, corporate sources said.

Samsung Electronics will be the first TV maker in China to upgrade all of its LCD TV products with LED technologies.

LED TVs currently make up 70 percent of Samsung’s China revenue, while other LCD TVs make up 20 percent.

According to a recent report released by market researcher GfK Group, Samsung holds a 7 percent share in the Chinese TV market, which is on par with Japan’s Sony.

However, China’s TV market is dominated by domestic makers, with Haier, Konka Group, Changhong Electric, Skyworth Group, TCL and Hisense Electric holding a combined 60 percent market share.