Global TV Revenues Rise 13% in Q4’05 on Strong Flat Panel/HDTV Growth; Sony Back on Top

DisplaySearch:t Q4’05 shipments and revenues by brand, region, size and resolution for all TV technologies. Shipments for 47 different brands are identified in the report.TV revenues grew 36% Q/Q and 13% Y/Y to $26.3B to the delight of retailers and TV manufacturers. Driving the growth was increased flat panel and HDTV penetration resulting from their higher average selling prices (ASPs). Flat panel TV penetration jumped from 8% in Q4’04 to 19% in Q4’05 on a unit basis and from 36% to 58% on a revenue basis, causing the blended TV ASP to rise 18% Y/Y to $451. Regionally, Europe enjoyed the highest revenue growth, up 40%, followed by North America, which was up 15%. Flat panel TV penetration on a revenue basis was highest in Japan at 94%, followed by Europe at 77% and North America at 52%. HDTV sales also drove up the blended price; HDTV shipments as a percentage of total TV shipments more than doubled worldwide from 7% in Q4’04 to 17% in Q4’05. It was highest in Japan at 52% with North America at 35% and Europe at 28%. By technology, LCD TVs overtook CRT TVs for the first time on a revenue basis in Q4’05, holding a 38% to 31% advantage on 58% Y/Y growth. On a unit basis, TV shipments rose 31% Q/Q while declining 4% Y/Y in Q4’05 to 58.2M units. China experienced the largest Y/Y decline due to different seasonality associated with the timing of the 2005 Chinese New Year. Europe had the fastest Y/Y unit growth up 5% with NA up 3%. By technology

• LCD TVs enjoyed the fastest growth, up 137% Y/Y, boosting their share from 6% to 15% as shown in Table 1. This enabled LCD TVs to overtake CRT TVs on a revenue basis. LCD TVs gained significant share in all regions except for ROW. For more information on Q4’05 LCD TV shipment results, please see Sony Rises from #4 to #1 in LCD TVs in Q4’05 .

• Plasma TVs grew 109% Y/Y to more than double their share to 3.9%. Plasma TVs had record results and exceeded expectations, but lost share in key size categories and in certain regions on supply constraints. For more information on plasma TV results, please see DisplaySearch Reports global Plasma TV Shipments Continue to Exceed Expectations – Q4'05 Shipments Rise 109%.

• Microdisplay rear projection TV (MD RPTV) shipments grew 52% Y/Y to boost their unit share to 1.6% with Sony accounting for more than one out of every two microdisplay RPTVs sold. North America continued to dominate this market earning an 87% share on a unit basis. For more information on MD RPTVs, please see Sony Dominates Q4’05 Microdisplay Rear Projection TV Market: 1080p Share Jumps from 7% to 15%.CRT TV shipments fell 15% Y/Y in Q4’05 causing their share to fall from 89% to 79%. CRT TVs accounted for less than 40% of shipments in Japan and less than 65% of shipments in North America and Europe. CRT TV shipments were down at least 11% Y/Y in all regions. Slim CRT TVs and CPT capacity are now being captured in this report with slim CPT shipments nearly reaching 1M units in Q4’05. LGE led the Q4’05 CRT TV market on a unit basis, overtaking Samsung, while TTE remained #1 on a revenue basis.CRT RPTV shipments were down 60% Y/Y and fell from 68% of the Q4’04 RPTV market to 36% of the Q4’05 RPTV market for two reasons. MD RPTVs have narrowed the price gap, and consumers prefer the picture quality and form factor advantages of MD RPTVs. CRT RPTVs were down at least 58% Y/Y in each region. TTE was the top brand on a unit and revenue basis.

More statistics: Quarterly global TV Shipment and Forecast Report.

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