LCD TV Projected to Reach 81 Million Units in 2007

LCD TV panels will total more than 81 million units in 2007, according to DisplaySearch, a market researcher and consultant. An overwhelming percentage of the units will be HD. The 40-42 inch segment of the LCD units will grow more than 100 percent year-to-year between the third quarter of 2006 and the same period in 2007, the research firm said in a voluminous report released for sale on Jan. 23.

Components and materials are expected to contribute more than 75 percent to the cost structure of the 40-42 inch LCD panels from major makers such as Sony, Samsung, Sharp and LG.Philips LCD, DisplaySearch said. For the 40-42 inch panels, the five most expensive components include:

• Backlight units: 33 percent (of total costs)
• Color filter: 19 percent
• Polarizers: 9 percent
• Array glass substrate: 8 percent
• Backlight inverter: 7 percent