More 4K UHD TVs shipped in Q2 2014 than in all 2013

Thursday, August 28th, 2014
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NPD DisplaySearch: More 4K UHD TV Sets Shipped In Q2 2014 Than In All Of 2013

  • 4K is now clearly focused as the “must-have” feature for high-end TV viewing

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — More 4K ultra-HD (UHD) TV sets were shipped in the second quarter (Q2) of 2014 than shipped all year in 2013. According to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report, shipments in Q2 were 2.1 million sets, compared to 1.6 million shipped in 2013. Brands introduced their 2014 model ranges in the second quarter, with a clear focus on 4K as the “must-have” consumer feature for high-end television viewing.

With the introduction of 2014 models, the shipment balance by region has shifted. In 2013 China accounted for approximately 80 percent of shipments in each quarter, as Chinese brands introduced low-priced 4K TVs; however, in China there were few sources of 4K UHD content, and TV brands were largely marketing the higher pixel count to consumers. New 4K TV models from global brands have been introduced in all regions this year, and there has lately been increased 4K UHD content available from streaming providers.

2012-2014: Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, China, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, Japan

As a result of this recent regional shipment shift, China’s share of 4K TV shipments has dipped to 60 percent of shipments, although as supply chains are filled there is likely to be some over-shipment relative to demand outside of the Chinese market. “New 4K TV model introductions have broadened the 4K TV business, which has become a lot like the high-end TV market, in general,” said Paul Gray, director of European research for NPD DisplaySearch. “Even so, there needs to be greater implementation of broadcast offerings that deepen the value of 4K sets, beyond pixel counts.”
DisplaySearch will examine the 4K TV ecosystem in more detail at its upcoming IFA DisplaySearch Business Conference in Berlin on September 8, 2014; Paul Gray will also be speaking at the SMPTE UHD event at the IBC2014 Exhibition in Amsterdam on September 14, 2014.

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report covers the entire range of TV products shipped worldwide and regionally, and it offers the industry’s most comprehensive coverage of the TV market. For more information, please contact Charles Camaroto at 888-436-7673 or 516-625-2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com, or contact your regional NPD DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.