New York – The Plasma Display Coalition is reporting that
with the second quarter ending, sales trends for plasma HDTVs are on the
upswing.
In a statement, the Coalition quoted improved sales reports
from several statistical houses and added that plasma is doing better due to 3D
features in more models and “value for the inch” as compared with competing
technologies such as CCFL and LED-backlit LCD products. Improved energy
efficiency is also having a positive effect.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) CE
MarketMetrics program, “U.S. shipments of plasma TV sets between January and
May 2011 topped 1 million units at a faster clip than last year. CEA’s shipment
data reports also show the exceptional strength of high-definition 720p
technology, which currently accounts for nearly two-thirds of overall plasma
sales,” said Steve Koenig, industry analysis director for CEA, which tracks
sales from manufacturers into retail stores.
Tamaryn Pratt, principal at Quixel Research, noted, “Consumers
continue to benefit from the affordability of plasma models, in particular the
very large 60-inch-and-larger category. The percentage of HDTV sets sold with plasma
technology is growing, not shrinking, with plasma sales achieving a 12 percent
year-over-year revenue gain in the first quarter. In fact, plasma sales in the
first quarter of 2011 rose to almost 900,000 units, with particular strength in
720p models.”
The NPD Group, which tracks sell-through data at retail,
agreed. NPD tracking of January through April data shows steady growth for plasma.
When rounded off, NPD data shows a sell-through of 1 million units as opposed
to 805,000 for the same period in 2010. This represents a growth of 25 percent.
In contrast, NPD reported that LCD units grew 2 percent in the same period.
Ken Park, DisplaySearch senior analyst for Korea TV market
research affirmed the positive results. “With 3D functionality, plasma can
re-position itself as a lasting technology in the TV industry.”
Jim Palumbo, president of the Coalition, said in a
statement, “While plasma displays have long been the preferred screens in the
test labs of industry reviewers, many home entertainment specialists also agree
that plasma HDTV provides outstanding picture performance through superior
picture contrast, exceptionally deep black levels, and crisp resolution even in
fast-motion scenes.”
Palumbo added, “With the introduction of lifelike 3D plasma
displays coupled with more affordable products, plasma HDTV is continuing to
top the large-screen sales charts. Several 2011 plasma HDTVs also meet the new
more stringent Energy Star 5.3 requirements, which recognize top performers in
their size classes,” he added.
For example, a new high-performance 42-inch plasma is Energy
Star rated at 69 watts, as compared with a similar model in the same screen
size that drew 158 watts in 2008 — a reduction of nearly 60 percent in power
usage. Several 2011 plasma HDTVs meet the new more stringent Energy Star 5.3
requirements as top performers in their size classes.
“The Plasma Display Coalition and its members welcome and
support the new EnergyGuide yellow labels that are required on all TVs starting
this spring. The familiar guide, which can already be found on home appliances,
now shows apples-to-apples comparisons for all types of TV technologies,”
Palumbo said.
The Plasma Display Coalition (PDC) promotes the growth of plasma
HDTV in the United States and encourages the understanding of the benefits and
future potential of plasma HDTV. Founding members are LG Electronics USA and
Panasonic Corporation of North America.
