U.S. HDTV Unit Sales Jump 80% in 2006; 3.2 million Units in 4Q
More
than 3.2 million flat panel HDTVs will be sold in the United States in the
fourth quarter of 2006, which is more than twice the number sold in the
fourth quarter of 2005, as the HDTVs will be a popular item holiday
season, according
to Pacific Media Associates.
"If we combine all flat panel and rear projection HDTV consumer sales in the U.S.," said Rosemary Abowd, Vice President with Pacific Media Associates, "we project an 80% increase in unit sales for 2006 over 2005. We expect that pace to slow somewhat for 2007, with units growing only by 19%, or about 2.3 million more units than 2006." Revenues for 2006 will be only 42% greater than 2005, and will be flat for 2007 even though unit sales will increase.
"Everyone expects growth in unit sales, but the big story is on the revenue side," continued Abowd. "Average street prices continue to decline steadily, in spite of the move to larger screen sizes and higher resolution models. As a result, manufacturers are selling more units but getting less in return.
