According to TrendForce WitsView global medium- and large-size LCD TV demand will remain soft in 2012, with shipments reaching 206 million units with "small" 2.7% Y-o-Y growth.
Growth should be more positive in 2013-- the analyst predicts shipments will reach 215m units with 4.4% Y-o-Y growth.
The Korean vendors (Samsung and LG) dominate the 2013 market with 33% share, while Japanese (Sony, Sharp, Toshiba et al) share declines further to 21-22%.
The analyst also predicts LED LCD TV penetration will "surge"-- from around 70.3% in 2012 to 85-90% in 2013, as customers set to replace their 32-inch LCD TVs to larger, cheaper 40-inch models. Vendors are also introducing new size categories, such as 58-inch.
3DTV penetration in 2013 should rach around 25-26%, up from 19.9% in 2012, while direct LED penetration should grow from 10.5% to 18-20% in 2013.
When it comes to Smart TVs, WitsView says the device category remains "limited" in both software content and operator support, meaning sales will remain low-- unless Apple launches the much anticipated iTV/Apple TV. The integration of 4K resolutions and PC-style functionality might also boost Smart TV sales, but only if the industry resolves its technology- and interest-based conflicts.
