Study Sees Small Demand for 4K TVs

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Despite some high-profile product introductions, consumer demand for televisions with the ultra-high-definition 4K resolution will remain negligible for the foreseeable future, with shipments never accounting for more than 1 percent of the global liquid crystal display (LCD) TV market during the next five years.

Worldwide shipments of 4K LCD-TVs will rise to 2.1 million units in 2017, up from 4,000 in 2012, according to an IHS iSuppli Television Market Tracker Report from information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). Despite the large increase over the years, 4K will account for only 0.8 percent of the global LCD-TV shipments by 2017, as presented in the figure attached. The sets are known as 4K because the televisions sport a pixel format of 3,840 by 2,160—four times that of a typical high-definition set at 1,920 by 1,080 pixels.

The 4K television segment recently has garnered attention with Japanese manufacturer Sony Corp. announcing an 84-inch 4K LCD-TV priced at $25,000. LG Electronics of South Korea also launched an 84-inch LCD-TV for $20,000. Japan’s Toshiba Corp. is offering a 55-inch model priced at $10,000.

IHS iSuppli

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