Flat-panel TV shipments predicted to fall

U.S. flat-panel television shipments are expected to dip for the first time on an annual basis this year, ending an unbroken string of growth since the segment was created.

According to a report from market research firm IHS iSuppli, shipments of are forecast to decline to 37.1 million units, down 5 percent from 39.1 million units in 2011. Last year, shipments inched up just 1 percent from 38.6 million units in 2010.

The flat-panel TV category includes liquid crystal display televisions, plasma TVs and rear-projection TVs.

Shipments are projected to continue to weaken until at least 2015, in large part because of the maturation of the U.S. television market.

"The U.S. flat-panel television market has never declined on an annual basis, even at the height of the recession in 2008 and 2009," said Lisa Hatamiya, TV for IHS, which tracks television sales data and trends. "The decline starting this year suggests that demand may have crested for the mature U.S. ."

Hatamiya said sales in the U.S. are now being driven by consumers who are replacing their older flat-panel sets with new models with advanced features. In developing regions of the world, untapped markets remain for buyers making their first-ever purchase.

Another reason sales are expected to decline is supply and dynamic developments that occurred in 2011, IHS said.

The firm said brands were too optimistic last year, with manufacturers increasing shipments in the first quarter "only to be proven wrong when the hoped-for sales failed to materialize."

A negative chain reaction that followed lasted through the year, with sets being very aggressively priced in the third and fourth quarters to make up for a weak first half. Those price cuts hurt profits across the board for almost every vendor, IHS said.

As a result, brands will be very cautious in 2012. Manufacturers will try to control new shipments into the U.S. market, so that prices remain steady.

"The attempt to rein in pricing could also prove dicey, possibly risking the ire of a purchasing public used to discounting or a pattern of gradually lower prices," IHS said. "The overall effect will serve to inhibit this year."

(c)2012 the Los Angeles Times
Distributed by MCT Information Services

Citation: Flat-panel TV shipments predicted to fall (2012, April 3) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-04-flat-panel-tv-shipments-fall.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Analysts: LCD TV sales to fall for first time

0 shares

Feedback to editors