Despite a number of vendors pulling out of the global market, the plasma TV business in Australia remains strong, an analyst claims.
In recent weeks, Pioneer announced it would withdraw from the global plasma market, while NEC exited the Australian plasma TV space among other areas of business.
GfK account director, Neil Frackiewicz, cited some consolidation in the local market. However, overall figures for plasma TV sales have suggested the market is growing at almost the same rate as LCD screen TV sales. The three leading brands in plasma are Panasonic, LG Electronics and Samsung.
“There has been a constriction in the share held by the brands with minor shares, as the major three brands have increased their collective share of the sector overall,” he said.
Frackiewicz said LCD TV sales had increased 47 per cent in terms of unit sales in 2008, with plasma growing at 43 per cent. In terms of value, LCD TV growth was at 27 per cent, with plasma at 7 per cent.
“There was significant price erosion in the market last year, more so with plasma,” he said.
In the 40-inch plus market, which is the smallest size of a plasma screen, however, plasma still has the majority share of unit sales, at 53 per cent.
In a recent release, LG reaffirmed its commitment to plasma screens, with a focus on 50-inch plus sized screens and a full product roadmap.
