Menlo Park, CA–Pacific Media Associates, the global market information experts on large-screen displays, reports that unit sales for consumer flat panel HDTVs in North America declined 21-percent in April 2007, compared with March’s figures, which is in keeping with seasonal declines in previous years. However, their Consumer Flat Panel Display Sell-Through Tracking Service also shows a strong rise in the unit sales of 40- to 44-inch LCD HDTVs with 720p resolution.
“The 50- to 54-inch 720p was the most popular segment with a 19.5 percent unit share,” according to Rosemary Abowd, vice president of Pacific Media. “The 40- to 44-inch 720p LCD segment jumped from 6.4 percent unit share in March to 12.5 percent in April. High volume sales of third-tier branded models through online retail channels boosted the segment share, and helped drive down the segment’s average street price by nearly 10 percent.”
In fact, when the unit shares for all resolutions are combined (720p and 1080p), the 40- to 44-inch LCD segment finished in a dead heat with the 50- to 54-inch PDP segment, as each earned a 20.4 percent unit share.
Sony took top brand honors for April on a unit share basis, with 18.8 percent that narrowly edged out Pioneer’s 18.6 percent share. Pioneer was first in revenues, however, with a 28.1 percent share compared with second-place Sony’s 24.8 percent share. Pioneer’s PRO-1140HD was the best-selling unit in April with a 10.8 percent unit share and a 15.7 percent revenue share. Sony placed five models among the top ten best sellers for April.
For more information, www.pacificmediaassociates.com.
