Global Q1 4K LCD TV Shipments Jumped 400%, IHS Says

Global Q1 shipments of 4K LCD TVs reached 4.7 million units, a nearly 400 percent increase from Q1 a year earlier, IHS said Monday in a report. Overall TV shipments, including LCD, plasma, OLED and CRT, fell 2 percent year over year, while all LCD TV shipments alone rose almost 3 percent, IHS said: “The disparity in growth has to do with the significant reduction in both plasma and CRT shipments compared to a year ago.” Availability of 4K TVs is mainly confined to screen sizes larger than 40 inches, where 4K’s benefits “can be most clearly observed,” and also in regions where consumers are more willing to spend a premium to upgrade, IHS said. Overall, 9 percent of all TV shipments in Q1, but more than 31 percent of sets 50 inches and larger, were 4K TVs, it said.