DisplaySearch Reports LCD TV Panels Enjoyed Record Quarter in Q2`07

DisplaySearch, the flat panel display market research and consulting firm, reported in its latest Quarterly PDP Module and TV Shipment and Forecast Report and Weekly TV Flash Report that plasma and LCD TV panel sales were headed in opposite directions in Q207.

LCD TV panel shipments enjoyed a record quarter in Q207, rising 32% Q/Q and 65% Y/Y to 19.6M panels.  The Q207 results exceeded suppliers expectations and DisplaySearchs forecast by over 700K panels or 4%. Revenues grew 28% Q/Q and 39% Y/Y to a record $7.2B.  ASPs were only down 2% Q/Q and 16% Y/Y to $369. For the first time, twice as many 40`+ LCD TV panels were shipped as 40`+ plasma panels, as shown in Figure 1. The LCD TV share of the 40`+ flat panel market rose from 42% in Q206 to 68% in Q207. This can be attributed to the amount of optimized Gen 7 and larger LCD fab capacity brought online, to the success of LCD TV brands and retailers in getting consumers excited over 1080p TVs where LCDs have dominated PDPs and to the greater number of LCD TV brands overwhelming plasma TV brands in retail.