Quixel: Life Ahead For MD RPTV
By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 5/21/2007
BEAVERTON, ORE. — Although not enjoying the same explosive growth rates as flat-panel TV, microdisplay (MD) rear-projection HD sets will remain viable for at least the next three years, according to a new sales tracking report from Quixel Research.
"The MD category hit a home run in 2006 with sales closing in on 2.3 million units," said Tamaryn Pratt, Quixel principal. "In 2007, as some manufacturers de-emphasize the microdisplay category, we'll see about 1.9 million units sold, a great market for those remaining players."
Pratt said that by 2010, the category will drop below 1 million in sales as it is relegated to the largest screen sizes.
"We are expecting interesting and continued innovations with light sources, such as laser, and the green story, including LED," Pratt said.
The MD category continues to lead the 1080p adoption curve, according to Quixel.
"In Q1 2007 almost half (48 percent) of the units sold were 1080p or far more than both LCD TV and PDP," said Pratt. "By the end of 2007, the 1080p segment could easily capture 60 percent of the units sold or double that of 2006 sales."
"In reality, the MD category is bifurcated — addressing the value customer for big screen at both 1080p and 720p," Pratt continued. "These are the largest segments of the market and offer the most bang for the buck when compared to the flats at the similar screen sizes."
In Q1, the 50- to 55-inch 720p MD segment (the largest of the MD category) had an average selling price (ASP) of around $1,350, which is still significantly lower than the ASP for a 50-inch 720p plasma.
"This is the traditional CRT rear-projection customer — bigger is better," Pratt said. "On the high end of the category, the products are addressing the consumer who has more disposable income and interested in the best long term value — or future proofing with a 1080p set.
"Even at an ASP of $2,750, the 60-inch and larger 1080p segment is a great deal when compared to the price of a flat TV with similar specs," she said. "Taking all stats aside, it is all about trade off: Do you want thinner, or bigger and cheaper? Our primary research has consistently shown that most consumers want a flat TV — not a skinny RPTV but a flat TV — and the marketplace has borne that out."
As for brand share, Pratt said MD is in a three-horse race between Sony, Samsung and Mitsubishi.
"DLP MD model sales topped all other MD technology sales for the last 12 months in a row but there is only one major player both LCD-HTPS and LCoS technologies," she said. "If we aggregated LCD-HTSP and LCOS as "LCD based," this was the first quarter that DLP sales topped LCD based technology sales."
No related content found.
Featured Company
-
Brightpoint
BrightPoint is a global leader in mobile device lifecycle services. We provide a full suite of end-to-end supply chain and customization solutions to manufacturers, retailers and carriers in the mobile device industry. In a world that is increasingly connected with ever-evolving ..more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES