DisplaySearch announced that, according to its latest research, Sony outsold its flat panel TVs competitors in the Indian market last year.

For more information visit: www.displaysearch.com

Unedited press release follows:

Sony Takes Top Position for Flat Panel TV Shipments in India for 2010

SANTA CLARA, CALIF, March 7, 2011—Sony overtook Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics for the top position, with 22.1% of flat panel TVs shipped in the Indian market in 2010, according to the newly-published DisplaySearch Quarterly India TV Shipment and Forecast Database. The total TV market in India for 2010 was 15.6M units, 43.7% of the Asia Pacific TV market.

In Q4’10, the unit penetration of FPD TVs reached 51% in Asia Pacific, the lowest of any region, according to the data published in the DisplaySearch Quarterly Advanced Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. In India, CRT is still the primary TV technology, and Q4’10 FPD unit penetration reached only 27%, out of a total of 4.3M TVs shipped, increasing slightly from 23% in Q3’10.

32” and smaller sizes are leading the shift to FPDs from CRTs in India. 32” models have been the most popular LCD TVs with a 40% unit share, followed by 24” or smaller sizes, whose unit share increased to 38%.

“LCD TV shipments in 2010 grew more than 100% Y/Y, and DisplaySearch forecasts growth of more than 60% Y/Y for the Indian LCD TV market in 2011-2012,” noted Indrajit Ghosh, Director of India and South Asia for DisplaySearch.

“Sony, Samsung, and LG are in a close race for flat panel TV leadership in India. Sony currently has the lead due to successfully enhancing their sales channels and network, and emphasizing their brand, including products such as digital still cameras, especially for the middle class Indian consumer,” noted Hisakazu Torii, Vice President of TV Market Research for DisplaySearch.

There is strong competition among the three major brands in Indian flat panel TV market, which have a combined share of more than 60%. Samsung had top unit share in 2009, but dropped to #2 with a 21.3% share in 2010. LGE had top unit share in Q1’10 and Q3’10, but was #3 for the year, with a 21.0% share.

Table 1: 2010 India Flat Panel TV Brand Rankings by Unit Share

Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly India TV Shipment and Forecast Database

The DisplaySearch Quarterly India TV Shipment and Forecast Database includes TV shipments in India, by technology, brand and size, for 14 brands including 6 Indian local brands. Please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan for more information.

About DisplaySearch
Since 1996, DisplaySearch has been recognized as a leading global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge and resources. In collaboration with the NPD Group, its parent company, DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information on DisplaySearch analysts, reports and industry events, visit us at http://www.displaysearch.com/. Read our blog at http://www.displaysearchblog.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
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