• Rapidly growing internal panel capacity--Sharp had the fastest sequential TFT LCD supply growth of any panel supplier, up 36% Q/Q, as it continues to ramp its 8G fab.
• Growing LCD TV focus--Sharp's worldwide LCD TV panel shipments rose from 56% to 64% of its total large-area TFT LCD volume, taking share from notebook PCs.
• Significant emphasis on smaller sizes where demand is strong and supply is tight--Sharp's <32" volume rose 77% Q/Q, rising to 40% of its Q3'07 volume. Sharp was #1 in 19" and 26" and also led at 52".
• Increased emphasis on the North American LCD TV market--North America rose from 24% to 34% of Sharp's worldwide Q3'07 LCD TV volume.

Table 1: Preliminary Q2'07 - Q3'07 North American LCD TV Unit Share and Growth

Other LCD TV highlights include

• Vizio fell to #2 despite 334% Y/Y growth; it had the slowest Q/Q growth of the top five. Its slower Q3'07 sequential growth can be explained by the less seasonal nature of its primary sales channel: the warehouse club channel. Nonetheless, it was #1 in 32" and larger volume and in LCD HDTV volume. It also led the 32", 37" and 42" markets.
• Samsung fell from #2 to #3 despite 33% Q/Q and 79% Y/Y growth. It was #2 in 40"+ volume.
• Sony had the fastest Q/Q growth of the top five brands up 108% Q/Q and 84% Y/Y, as it rolled out a number of compelling new products later this year than last year, while also targeting mass merchants like Wal-Mart through the new M series. As a result, Sony's unit ranking rose from #7 to #4, and it jumped from #3 to #1 in revenues. Sony had the highest focus on 40" and larger LCD TVs which accounted for 67% of its volume. It led at 40- 42" and 46-47".
• Funai fell from #4 to #5 in units and led at 15" and 20".
• Preliminary totals for LCD TVs rose 34% Q/Q and 82% Y/Y to a new record high of 6.6M units. LCD TVs rose to 88% of flat panel TV volume vs. 78% in Q3'06.

In plasma TVs, Panasonic continued to lead, as shown in Table 2. Panasonic earned a 30% share on 11% Q/Q growth. However, on a Y/Y basis, Panasonic's volume was down 28% after it shipped an excessive number of plasma TVs into North America a year ago when the European market stalled after the World Cup. With Panasonic down, the total plasma TV market was down 17% Y/Y to a preliminary total of 866K units. Other highlights include

• Samsung and LGE each gained share on significant growth at larger sizes and also enjoyed success with new 1080p products. 
• Vizio fell from #4 to #7 as it exited the 42" plasma market to focus on 42" LCD.
• Hitachi enjoyed the fastest Q/Q growth on more than a 100% increase in 50", rising from #6 to #4.
• Panasonic led at 42", 50" and 55-59" and in all 1080p products. LGE led at 60"+.

Table 2: Preliminary Q2'07 - Q3'07 North American Plasma TV Unit Share and Growth

Based on the total LCD and plasma volume, the flat panel TV rankings are shown in Table 3. As indicated, Samsung overtook Vizio to earn the #1 position due to strong growth in both LCD and plasma TVs. Sharp, Sony and Funai remained at #3 - #5 with each gaining share.

Table 3: Preliminary Q2'07 - Q3'07 North American Flat Panel TV Unit Share and Growth

DisplaySearch's TV market intelligence including panel and TV shipments, TV shipments by region by brand by size for nearly 60 brands, rolling 16-quarter forecasts, TV cost/price forecasts and design wins can be found in its Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. For more information on this report, please contact Arie Braun at (512) 687-1505 or arie@displaysearch.com.

DisplaySearch is also holding a webinar on the Black Friday retail results. For more information, please follow this link.