HDTV had a 35% share of all TV shipments on a unit basis and 74% on a revenue basis. Samsung remained the top 720p/1080i brand with a 20% to 11% revenue share advantage over Sony.

Global TV unit shipments fell 21% Q/Q in seasonally weak Q1'07 but rose 4% Y/Y to 45.5M sets. This according to the latest report from DisplaySearch. Blended TV prices fell 1% Q/Q while rising 5% Y/Y to $524, the lowest value since Q1'06. LCD and plasma TV prices continued to experience rapid price erosion, falling 22% and 33% Y/Y to $936 and $1562, respectively.

Despite the rapid price declines, the flat panel TV share remained flat from Q4'06 to Q1'07 at 37% due to a shift in the regional mix caused by the Chinese New Year holidays. Related buying boosted China's share of the TV market from 20% to 23%, the highest share of all eight regions surveyed, but China's low flat panel TV penetration of just 18%—compared with North America, Japan and Western Europe at a combined 76%—resulted in the lack of share gains by flat panel TVs worldwide. It also contributed to slower revenue growth, which was up 9% Y/Y but down 22% Q/Q to $23.9B, the slowest Y/Y growth since Q2'05.

By region, North America had the fastest annual unit growth, up 9%, on strength in the warehouse club channel and in flat panel TVs, which rose 96% Y/Y and offset a decline of more than 40% in both CRTs and CRT RPTVs. Microdisplay (MD) RPTVs were down 10% Y/Y, although DLP RPTVs rose 28% to earn a 56% share of the MD RPTV category in North America, up significantly from a 39% share in Q1'06. North America remained the largest region on a revenue basis with a 28% share on 14% Y/Y growth, the fastest of all regions, led by its preference for larger TVs and high flat panel penetration. The region accounted for 74% of all TVs 50" and larger and had the largest average size at over 32".

China had the slowest sequential decline, down 8%, and the second fastest annual unit growth up 8%. Europe rebounded after two successive quarters of Y/Y declines, rising 7% on strong flat panel growth. Western Europe had the second largest average TV size at over 30".

By brand, Samsung was #1 on a unit basis for the third consecutive quarter with a 12% share on 37% Y/Y growth and was also the #1 brand on a revenue basis for the fifth consecutive quarter with a 16% share on 34% growth. By technology on a revenue basis, it was #1 in LCDs, #2 in MD RPTVs and PDPs and #3 in CRTs. Samsung also remained #1 in HD (720p/1080i) units and revenues. By region, Samsung was

#1 in Eastern and Western Europe and in North America in both units and revenues
#1 on a revenue basis and #2 on a unit basis in Asia Pacific
#2 in Middle East/Africa in both units and revenues
#3 in Latin America in both units and revenues.

LGE was the #2 brand on a unit basis for the third consecutive quarter and rose from #4 to #3 on a revenue basis. By technology, LGE was #1 in CRTs in units and revenues, was #2 in PDPs on a unit basis and #3 in revenues, and was #5 in units and revenues in LCD TVs. By region, LGE was

#1 in units and revenues in Latin America and Middle East/Africa
#1 on a unit basis and #2 on a revenue basis in Asia Pacific
#2 in both units and revenues in Eastern Europe
#4 in units and revenues in Western Europe

Sony remained #1 in 1080p TV units and revenues. It was also #1 in MD RPTV units and revenues and was #2 in LCD TV units and revenues, slightly behind Samsung on a revenue basis. By region on a revenue basis, Sony was in the top five in every region excluding China:

#2 in Japan and North America
#3 in Western Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East/Africa
#4 in Latin America
#5 in Eastern Europe

LCD TVs were the only technology to enjoy Y/Y revenue growth in Q1'07, up 54% to $13.6B because 98% Y/Y unit growth to 14.5M units more than offset the 22% ASP declines. LCD TVs rose to 32% of the global TV market on a unit basis and 57% on a revenue basis. Western Europe was the top region for LCD TVs, holding a 35% share and LCD TVs had more than a 50% share of shipments in Japan, North America and Western Europe. LCD TVs widened their advantage over plasma at 40‑44" from 52% vs. 46% in Q4'06 to 58% vs. 41% in Q1'07, with RPTVs accounting for the remainder. At 50‑54", the LCD TV share rose from 7% in Q4'06 to 12% in Q1'07 on 41% Q/Q growth. In addition, LCD TVs accounted for a majority of all TVs sold at 40" and larger for the first time in Q1'07 at 50.2%, up from just 17% in Q1'06. The average LCD TV diagonal rose from 29.9" to 30.7" with 40" and larger LCD TVs at 19% of total LCD TV shipments, up from 7% in Q1'06 and 17% in Q4'06. 1080p resolution LCD TVs were 9% of total LCD TV units and 35% of all 40"+ LCD TVs. By LCD TV brand, Samsung reclaimed the top position on a revenue basis on 92% Y/Y growth to earn a 17.4% share, edging Sony with a 17.1% share on 74% growth. Samsung had a larger edge on a unit basis at 16.2% to 11.9% with Sharp close behind at 11.8%. On a unit basis, Samsung led in Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, North America and Western Europe, while LGE led in Latin America and Middle East/Africa, and Sharp led in Japan.

Plasma TV revenues declined 28% Q/Q and 9% Y/Y to $3.6B, while units fell 24% Q/Q but rose 37% Y/Y to 2.3M TVs benefiting from inventory at brands at the beginning of the quarter as plasma panel shipments were flat Y/Y. Plasma TVs fell further behind LCDs at 40-44", but their share of the 50-54" market rose from 55% in Q4'06 to 59% in Q1'07 with the RPTV share falling from 38% to 30%. Plasma TVs also led in the 50" and larger TV market with a 48% share, up from 42% in Q4'06, with RPTVs falling from 42% to 35%. 42" remained the leading plasma size with a 65% share, down from 68% in Q4'06, while the 50"+ share grew from 23% in Q4'06 to 27% in Q1'07. North America remained the largest region for plasma TVs with a 36% share followed by Western Europe at 29%. 1080p PDP TVs are still less than 1% of the plasma TV market; however, they are expected to surge in Q2'07 on Panasonic's competitively priced 50" offering. Panasonic remained the market leader in Q1'07 with a 29% unit share. Panasonic was #1 in China, Eastern Europe, Japan, North America and Western Europe, while LGE led in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East/Africa. LGE was #2 on a unit basis, and Samsung was #2 on a revenue basis.

CRT TV unit shipments were down 21% Q/Q and 17% Y/Y to 28M units and a 62% share of total TV shipments. CRT TV revenues were down 17% Q/Q and 22% Y/Y to $6B and a 24% share. China was the leading region for CRT TVs with a 31% share followed by Asia Pacific and Latin America. Both 20-21" and 25-29" CRT TVs gained share in Q1'07, with 82% of total CRT TV volume. LGE was #1 in units and revenues, followed by TTE and Samsung. LGE led on a unit basis in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East/Africa, TTE led in China, Funai led in Japan and North America, Samsung led in Eastern Europe, and Philips led in Western Europe.

HDTV had a 35% share of all TV shipments on a unit basis and 74% on a revenue basis. Samsung remained the top 720p/1080i brand with a 20% to 11% revenue share advantage over Sony, while Sony led at 1080p with a 33% to 27% revenue share advantage over Sharp with Samsung #3.