LED backlit TVs outsell standard LCD for first time

Newer technology now comprises more than half the LCD TVs sold in EMEA

Shipments of LCD TVs with LED backlighting outsold CCFL-backlit TVs for the first time across EMEA in the third quarter, according to new figures from displays analyst Meko.

Some 52 per cent of TVs sold across the region in the quarter had LED backlighting, Meko said, and that is in a market down 2.9 per cent overall from the same quarter a year ago.

"The shift helped ASPs stay close to the level of Q2, despite falling prices, as consumers continued to buy more of the larger-sized sets, with 40in and 42in sets with Full HD being the category with the highest value," the analyst said in a statement.

Quarter on quarter, sales of TVs across EMEA grew 6.5 per cent to nearly 15.9 million sets. Most of the growth came from the Middle East, Africa and eastern Europe, it added.

"The West remained flat, with several markets, including the UK, well down. Considering that this year's Q3 followed on from a very poor Q2, and Q3 was especially bad last year because of a hangover of inventory from the World Cup, the result was poorer than Meko had expected," the firm stated.

Total LCD sales accounted for 88 per cent of the TV market, or 14 million units. Samsung and Philips increased their sales from Q3 last year, but LG, Sony and Panasonic all saw declines from the year-ago quarter, according to Meko.

Any spare inventory should now have been flushed from the supply chain, hinting at a possible sales recovery in Q4, the firm said.