'Constrained Environment' for TVs Looms After Supply Chain Disruptions: TCL
TCL expects a “constrained environment” for the rest of 2020, emailed a spokesperson, following up on the vendor's 2020 virtual product launch for Series-5 and Series-6 TVs last week. TCL’s component supply chains, including panels, reside in China; supplies were disrupted due to COVID-19 early this year, while demand increased in finished goods, she said.
TCL, the No. 2 TV brand in the U.S., hopes to benefit from LG and Samsung moves away from LCD panel production (see 2001210030), said Chris Larson, senior vice president-North America, during the launch event. Developing a brand means becoming the primary TV in the home; TCL’s global success hinges on cracking the premium North American market as the primary screen in the home, he said.
The China-based TV maker has the No. 2 U.S. share of 50-inch-and-above TVs, Larson said, and it wants to expand the brand's reach to appliances, sound bars, headphones and smartphones (see 2003050022). The company’s “vertically integrated” supply chain enables it to deliver products at “accessible” price points.
TCL is readying an 8K TV for the holiday season, said Aaron Dew, director-product development; details will be disclosed later. TCL also teased 8K TV at the 2019 CES for last year’s holiday season (see 1901070058) but decided the time wasn’t right for 8K.
It’s not time for an ATSC 3.0 model this year, the spokesperson emailed. TCL TVs continue to feature digital TV tuners with advanced program guides and an available live TV pause feature for broadcast channels, but "there are no plans to bring ATSC 3.0 tuners to the market at this time.”
TCL’s Series-6 is the first to have THX Certified Game Mode, designed to let gamers fine-tune the picture for low-latency play. Variable refresh rate and auto game mode are said to deliver a smoother gaming experience. Availability is limited for the 6-Series, which includes 55- ($649), 65- ($899) and 75-inch ($1,399) models.
The company brought quantum dot technology into the 5-Series for the first time, joining the 6, saying it offers better brightness and wider color space. Both QLED series have Dolby Vision. Eighty zones of LED lights power the 5-Series TVs’ luminance engine, TCL said. The 5-series is available in screen sizes from 50 to 75 inches, starting at $400.
TCL remains firmly aligned with the Roku TV platform. The spokesperson directed us to the companies involved for official comments about lack of access to HBO Max or Peacock on the Roku platform but said “everyone is optimistic that these business issues will be resolved.” She cited “typical negotiations between large and powerful companies in a rapidly changing business model” and said content companies “cannot succeed without distribution and the distributors are not much value to consumers if they can’t deliver the content demanded.”