DisplaySearch: LCD HDTV Shipments at a Crawl

Shipments of LCD HDTVs were down sharply during the second quarter of 2011, largely due to “lackluster” consumer demand, according to research firm DisplaySearch.

Shipments of LCD HDTVs were down 1% year-over-year, the research firm reported. While worldwide shipments of LCD HDTVs grew at least 20% each quarter in 2010, shipments slowed 9% year-over-year during the first quarter of 2011, and 6% during the second quarter.

“Due to weakening macro-economic conditions, similar to what happened during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, the TV industry is becoming somewhat pessimistic and reducing inventory, especially in North America and Western Europe,” said Hisakazu Torii, VP of TV research at DisplaySearch.

Sales of HDTVs still are proving strong in China, Torii added, with that country accounting for 10% more HDTV shipments during the second quarter, compared to the same quarter in 2010.

Worldwide sales of 3DTVs also were up, with 3D display enjoying a 9% market share during the second quarter, compared to 4% during the first quarter, DisplaySearch reported.