DisplaySearch reports 2012 TV shipments will decline by -11% Y-o-Y in W. Europe, offsetting growth in emerging markets-- with the result WW TV shipments will remain flat this year.

However the analyst predicts LCD TVs will at least see some growth (7% Y-o-Y) in 2012 with shipments reaching 220m, the result of capturing more market share from the declining CRT and plasma segments.

LCD TVs should make 88.5% of global TV shipments (up from 82.5% in 2011) before reaching 90% in 2013. In comparison plasma will account for 5.3% of 2012 shipments following a peak of 7.4% in 2010.

OLED will debut this year in large sizes, but DisplaySearch shipments will only reach around 50K units, if not less. Meanwhile following its shaky start 3DTV is growing in popularity, with shipment penetration in W. Europe to exceed 25% in 2012.

When it comes to TV sizes, bigger is the preference-- 2012 average TV shipped size will reach almost 35", up from less than 30" in 2008.

Go DisplaySearch Quarterly Advanced Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report

Bang & Olufsen launches the BeoPlay brand with the V1, a side-lit LED HDTV available in 32- and 40-inch sizes.

It has a number of interesting features such as a front-built light sensor that dynamically adjust image contrast depending on the light in the viewing environment and a slot fitting an Apple TV2 inside the connection panel on the back.

Built-in 5.1 audio (supposedly "liberating the viewing experience from the wall" by limiting wires) features Class D ICEpower amplifiers.

Connections include x5 HDMI inputs and a USB port for playing media from external sources. Display refresh rate is 120Hz.

The V1 comes in black or white, and the company offers 5 different fabric sleeves (in gray, green, yellow, pink and black) allowing users to change the look of the TV.

It ships with the Beo4 remote and a floor stand.

Go BeoPlay V1

Apple is apparently going  to buy Loewe for €87 million according unconfirmed rumours from AppleInsider, with an announcement to be supposedly made by 18 May 2012.

Speaking with German website Heise, Loewe denies any purchase-related rumours. On the other hand Apple is predictably silent.

Loewe is a familiar name over here as the German maker of stunning high-end TVs, speakers and integrated entertainment systems. Like other TV makers (at least non-Samsung ones) it is currently going through hard times, with operating losses for Q1 2012 reaching -€900000 and total 2011 losses worth -€2.9m.

The company is already familiar with Apple hardware-- it sells the AirSpeaker (a high-end AirPlay-compatible speaker), a number of iPod docks and an iPad TV remote app.

Panasonic and Japanese broadcaster NHK unveil what they say is a world first-- a 145" Super Hi-Vision self-illuminating plasma display handling 8K (7680x4320) resolutions.

One might recall how at CES 2012 Sharp displayed a Super Hi-Vision LCD prototype measuring 85".

The Panasonic mega-TV also uses an improved drive method, scanning pixels vertically in order to achieve flicker-free images. The company has been working on smaller (85" or 103") 4K plasmas for some time... and now appears to be ready to move to even bigger projects.

Super Hi-Vision is a broadcasting development from NHK, using 4000 scan lines to deliver 8K images. It also offers 22.2 channel surround sound. Still very much a work in progress, Super Hi-Vision TVs should only start hitting the market sometime around 2020.

Go 145" Plasma Display Developed for Super Hi-Vision

Watch 145" Plasma Display (DigInfo)

Samsung reports record profits for Q1 2012, beating Japanese rivals in the TV stakes while gaining mobile market share through Galaxy and Note sales.

The company remains the biggest TV maker in the world, described by analysts as one of "the few global TV manufacturers making money and winning market share" as the top Japanese TV firms continue losing more and more cash.

Samsung operating profits for Q1 2012 total $5.15 billion (or 5.85 trillion won), with 98% Y-o-Y growth.

When it comes to TVs, total Samsung sales grow by 22% Y-o-Y, while the flat-panel display division reports 31% growth. LCD panel sales are up by 17% and unit volume grows by 20%.

We've been hearing rumours on how Apple will soon release a TV set for quite a while now-- but would customers actually buy one? According to a survey from KAE, the answer appears to be... yes.

The survey says 30% of consumers in the UK (and 25% in the US) would buy an Apple TV set once it hits the market. Perhaps unsurprisingly the percentage gets higher amongst iDevice owners, jumping to 43% in the UK (38% US).

Commenting about Apple possibly moving into the TV business, KAE remarks "such a move would be an incredibly powerful extension of the iOS platform, accessed via a more compelling device option than Apple’s current offering (Apple TV)."

An Apple TV set would also bring further profits for app developers and accessory makers.

Customers-to-be also also trust Apple to make a high quality product (62% UK, 59% US), if not one bearing ground-breaking design (58% UK, 52% US), with features including internet connectivity, apps, and automatic synchronisation with other iDevices.

KAE also says Sony and Samsung are the TV makers "most likely to suffer" with the launch of an Apple TV set-- 38% of Sony and 36% of Samsung TV owners in the UK claim they would convert to Apple once such a TV becomes available.

Go Demand for an Apple TV Set (KAE)