Quixel: Plasma Sales Rose 14% Over Last Year

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 5/12/2010

Portland, Or. - Plasma TV shipments rose 14 percent between Q1'09 and Q1'10 according to a new study release Wednesday by Quixel  Research.

The firm's Q1 2010 USA Large Area Display Report revealed that unit sales of 40-inch-plus plasma TVs registered a larger volume increase than the 40-inch and larger LCD TVs in the period.

"Plasma TV sales are still strong because they provide a great value, and when consumers do a little homework, they understand that Plasma TVs offer picture quality that is just as good and sometimes better than LCDTVs," stated Tamaryn Pratt, Quixel Research's principal. "It also helps that almost all the Plasma TVs available today are offered by top tier brands and for many consumers that seals the deal."

The overall Large Area Display category was up 7 percent in units year to year, with 40-inch-plus LCD TV volumes increasing 6 percent for the same time period.

Typical seasonal decline and a recessionary marketplace were the primary contributors to a 32 percent quarter to quarter unit dropoff for the large area display segment in Q1'10.

From Q4'09 to Q1'10, LCD TV volumes were down 24 percent, plasma TV volumes were down 46 percent and MicroDisplay Rear Projection TV volumes were down 21 percent.

Revenues for the large area display category were off 32 percent quarter to quarter but had a softer landing year to year with a 13 percent decline from Q1'09 to Q1'10, Quixel said.

Increased sales of 55-inch and 60-inch models were the fuel for the LCD TV category and the overall Large Area Display category in Q1'10. Sales of 55-inch LCD TVs were up close to 600 percent year to year and down only 7 percent quarter to quarter.

Signaling a major shift, 55-inch LED models outsold 55-inch CCLF models for the first time during the quarter, according to Quixel.

To purchase the full report email info@quixelresearch.com.