According to first quarter figures released this week by DisplaySearch, the market research and consulting firm, new TV unit shipments globally fell more than 20 percent quarter-to-quarter, but over the year grew 4 percent to 45.5 million sets.
Average across-the-board prices for all makes and models ("blended") fell 1 percent quarter-to-quarter, while climbing 5 percent year-to-year to $524--the lowest value since Q1 of 2006. LCD price points fell 22 percent, and plasma declined 33 percent year-to-year (to averages of $936 and $1,562 respectively), according to DisplaySearch data.
North America had the fastest annual unit growth--up nearly 10 percent--thanks mainly to the healthy sales at warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club, as well as in flat-panel units overall, which rose 96 percent year-to-year (partially erasing a decline of more than 40 percent in both CRT and CRT rear-projection units).
China, down 8 percent, had the slowest sequential decline, and Europe staged a comeback after two successive quarters of year-to-year declines, rising 7 percent on healthy growth in flat-panels.
Globally, Samsung was atop the list for units sold and revenue for the third quarter in a row with a 12 percent market share. LGE was second on a unit-sold basis for the third consecutive quarter.
