4K TV Shipments Grew 400% in Q1

8 Jun, 2015 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Overall TV shipments dipped 2%

Demand for Ultra HD televisions continues to grow, with shipments of 4K TVs up 400% in the first quarter compared with the previous-year period, according to new data from IHS.

4K features about four-times the clarity of 1080p resolution.

Unit shipments reached 4.7 million, driven by outsized demand in the world’s largest 4K market: China, surrounding the Chinese New Year holiday season. 4K TV shipments to China increased 244% year-over-year to more than 2.6 million units in the quarter.

“This growth was driven by an expanded assortment of screen sizes between 40 inches and 50 inches that have recently become available from manufacturers, and retail premiums well below 50%, which is encouraging consumers to upgrade,” Paul Gagnon, director of TV research, said in a statement.

Indeed, the 4K TV market is primarily directed at screen sizes bigger than 40 inches, where the benefit can be most clearly observed, and also in regions where consumers are more willing to spend a premium to upgrade.

Overall, 9% of all TV shipments in Q1 were 4K, but when looking at larger screen sizes, the share of shipments rises significantly. More than 31% of 50-inch and larger TVs were 4K.

IHS reported that Samsung was the top brand shipping 4K TVs in Q1, accounting for more than 32% of worldwide sales. LG was the second-largest 4K TV brand in the quarter, with a revenue share of 15%, followed by Hisense, Sony and Skyworth.

Meanwhile, growth for the rest of the TV market was subdued with total shipments, including LCD, plasma, OLED and CRT, down 2% year-over-year, while LCD TV shipments alone rose about 3%. The disparity in growth has to do with the significant reduction in both plasma and CRT shipments compared with a year ago.

 

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