According to Korean site ETNews, Samsung Display decided to re-enter the OLED TV market. The Korean display maker reportedly finds it difficult to make a profit from the competitive LCD business (some reports suggest that SDC aims to split the OLED and LCD business soon).

Interestingly, the reports suggest that Samsung aims to use a WRGB architecture – like LG uses in their own OLED TVs, and unlike the direct-emission used in Samsung’s small display and first-generation OLED TVs. The WRGB (white OLED with color filters and four sub pixels) was originally developed at Kodak, and then bought by LG back in 2009.

Samsung is reportedly considering making the TFT in an converted LCD fab and then depositing the organic materials in their A3 line. This is a bit strange as the A3 line is their upcoming flexible (plastic-based) OLED line, which should begin production soon – and its capacity will be in demand for Samsung’s own GS6 Edge and other flexible OLED products.

But SDC’s biggest worry is probably not the technical challenges – but the fact that LG (through GOT) owns the basic patents for WRGB. Samsung and LG have been fighting over OLED patents for years, and there’s no agreement in sight. LGD isn’t likely to license this technology to their biggest rival, and Samsung will have to find a way to go around LG’s patents.

Of course we should remember that this is just an unverified report. Over two years ago the Korea Times reported that Samsung is going to switch to WRGB for their OLED TV production, which never happened. But maybe this time it is true. We had one tiny hint when earlier this month Samsung filed for new OLED TV trademarks in Korea.

Samsung released their first OLED TV, the KN55S9C, back in June 2013. The TV was available worldwide for a short time for around $10,000, and then dropped to around $6,000 (and even lower) – but Samsung soon stopped production and never released another TV. Samsung officials repeatedly said that Samsung will not resume OLED TV production until 2016 or 2017.

<Source: oled-info>