Sony Corporation overtook Samsung Electronics Co as the world’s largest LCD TV supplier in the last quarter of 2006 according to DisplaySearch, the world leader in display market research. Sony took a 17.4% share in the global LCD TV market by value, followed by Samsung with 15% and Sharp Corporation with 11.2%. This came as a result of strong demand for Sony’s Bravia LCD TVs.
Jonathan White, general manager, Sony UK TV&HV Business Unit, commented to IER: “Sony’s revitalization in TV coincided with the release of BRAVIA LCD TVs in late 2005, and constant innovation and expansion of the product line-up across a wide variety of screen sizes from 15 to 52in sizes. However, there are also two other major drivers that Sony has been pioneering and those are Digital Switchover and High Definition.
“Over the past year we have been working with Sky to bring to consumers’ attention the whole entertainment experience of High Definition. Exciting new technologies, such as Blu-ray, PlayStation3 and High Definition camcorders, mean we have a great opportunity to get those people who have already bought a HD television back into retailers to experience what High Definition really means as an entertainment format.”
In terms of unit shipments, Samsung retained the top spot, with a 14% share, narrowly beating Philips (13%) and Sony (12%), which came second and third, respectively.
In the plasma TV market, Matsushita Electric, the owner of the Panasonic brand, remained the top supplier, holding 33% of the market by value. However, global plasma revenues fell by 4% in the last quarter of 2006.
