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Thanks to a readjustment in its product mix, as well as increasing large size LCD TV sales, Taiwan-based Amtran Technology had pre-tax profits of NT$ 21.4 million in the second quarter, according to company spokesman Scottie Chiu. However, the company stated that the enormous loss it suffered in the first quarter will prevent the company from being profitable for the year. The company had net loss of NT$536 million in the first quarter. more...
If you are planning on buying a new TV in the near future, you may be surprised to find out a lot things have changed over the years. There're so many new terms, acrinames, and names floating around, you may just get overwhelm with everything.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a greant new article online that will help get you up to speed.
Remember when remote controls and cable-ready capability were the new must-have TV features?If you haven't considered buying a TV in several years, be advised: Things have changed.
With an alphabet soup of technologies and options to wade through -- from SDTV, EDTV or HDTV to CRT, LCD, DLP or LCoS -- and more models available than the average viewer can shake an antenna at, the picking isn't easy. more...
EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service have unveiled a dynamic, nationwide branding and advertising campaign with a money-saving offer for new customers. The campaign, declaring that DISH Network is "Better TV for All," will appeal particularly to dissatisfied cable customers.
Based on public reports, 1.2 million households have switched to satellite TV since January, bringing satellite's share of pay-TV users to more than 25 percent. According to a recent survey conducted by the Leichtman Research Group, Inc., 60 percent of former digital cable subscribers who maintain a pay-TV subscription cite expense and "poor value" as the top reasons for dropping the service. DISH Network's new campaign alerts dissatisfied cable customers to the better option of satellite TV.
Simply stated, "Better TV for All" means DISH Network offers the lowest all-digital price in America, with award-winning customer satisfaction and the latest technology.
"Research indicates that most cable subscribers don't know the benefits of satellite TV," said Michael Neuman, president and chief operating officer of EchoStar. "A significant percentage of them have no idea that DISH Network is less expensive than digital cable despite DISH Network's lowest all-digital price in America. This new campaign will educate those unhappy cable TV watchers."
A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report on cable industry prices released in February confirmed that DISH Network programming packages cost 20 percent less than those typically offered by digital cable.
The "Better TV for All" campaign promotes DISH Network's commitment to protect television viewers across the country from inferior picture quality, sub-standard customer service and outrageous prices forced upon them by cable providers.
The campaign's new elements include updated graphics, a re-designed website and an edgy television, print and radio advertising effort. The advertisements serve as a wake-up call to people who have endured over-priced digital cable service too long.
"Our new campaign and positioning statement, 'Better TV for All,' aims to remind people how unhappy they are with their current cable-TV service," said Jody Martin, DISH Network senior vice president of Marketing. "We want everyone to know that they have a better choice in pay TV, and it's DISH Network."
Celebrating the campaign, DISH Network is offering new customers one month free service and three free months of HBO, Showtime and Cinemax when they sign up for any qualifying programming package. The offer comes complete with free standard professional installation, no hardware to buy and a free digital video recorder (DVR) equipment upgrade with an 18-month commitment. The basic package, America's Top 60, includes more than 60 all-digital channels, with locals in more than 160 markets, for only $31.99 per month following the first month.
For more information on DISH Network, visit www.buymydish.com
Monthly LCD monitors shipments from Innolux have exceeded one million units, according to market sources as cited in the Chinese-language Commercial Times.
Innolux was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Innolux began shipping LCD monitors this February and the company expects to ship nine million units this year, according to company president Hsing C Tuan. Sources quoted by the paper added that shipments from the company in the first quarter reached one million units and totaled two million units in the second quarter.
Currently, Dell is one of the main customers for Innolux, the paper said.
AOC-brand (manufactured by Hong Kong-listed TPV Technology) and BenQ were the top two Taiwan-based LCD monitors suppliers in the first half of 2005, according to reports from Taiwan's Market Intelligence Center (MIC).
The new 55HDT51 delivers high image quality in a sleek package with a generous screen, although the remote's layout is confusing
The Good Lots of real estate (55 inches) on a motorized swivel base
The Bad Exposes every flaw of standard-definition programming
The Bottom Line Great addition if you're using it mainly for DVDs and high-def content
Microsoft is close to patenting a technology that, for all intents and purposes, makes a Tivo out of your digital media player.
The technology in question, patent application number 20030221541, was filed in May of 2002 and "relates generally to systems and methodologies that facilitate generation of playlists," according to a summary of the invention patent. "It reduces effort and time required to generate a playlist that meets or is similar to desired characteristics or features by automatically generating a playlist." more...
DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in display market research and consulting, released Q2'05 TV shipments and revenues for all TV technologies and brands by region and size this week in its Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. TV shipments were down 14% Q/Q and 2% Y/Y on seasonal weakness in China and CRT weakness in Europe. However, due to a 7% Q/Q and 12% Y/Y increase in average selling prices (ASPs) on strong flat panel growth, total TV revenues increased 10% to $17.3B.
Flat panel TV shipments were up 26% Q/Q and 132% Y/Y to 5.13M units in Q2'05. The flat panel share of the TV market on a unit basis reached 13% in Q2'05, up from 6% in Q2'04 and 9% in Q1'05. On a revenue basis, the flat panel share surged to 47% on 18% Q/Q and 85% Y/Y growth to $8.2B, up from a 28% share in Q2'04 and 37% share in Q1'05.
In terms of shipments by technology:
-- CRT TV unit shipments declined 10% Y/Y and 18% Q/Q to 32.75M as they lost ground to LCDs. Its unit share remained dominant however at 84%, down from 88% in Q1'05 and 92% in Q2'04. CRTs are losing ground primarily at the larger sizes, which caused its average size to decline 2% Q/Q and Y/Y in Q2'05 to 22.7". With China suffering a seasonal decline after a strong Q1'05, ROW accounted for 47% of the CRT TV market and was the only region to enjoy a Y/Y increase led by the Korean manufacturers. LGE was the top branded CRT TV manufacturer in Q2'05 with a 10% share, overtaking TTE. Samsung jumped to #2 with TTE falling to #3. On a revenue basis, however, TTE remained #1 followed by LGE and Samsung with Sony falling from #2 to #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Panasonic was #1 in Japan, Funai was #1 in North America, Philips was #1 in Europe, Konka was #1 in China and LGE led in ROW.
-- LCD TV shipments rose 27% Q/Q and 148% Y/Y to slightly over 4M units, a record high. Its unit share exceeded 10% for the first time at 10.3%, up from 4% in Q2'04 and 7% in Q1'05, while its revenue share rose from 13% in Q2'04 and 22% in Q1'05 to 29% in Q2'05. Despite a 5% Q/Q and 13% Y/Y increase in average size to 24", LCD TV ASPs fell 5% Q/Q and 4% Y/Y under significant pricing pressure which contributed to its rapid growth. All regions except ROW enjoyed double-digit sequential growth with North America rising the fastest up 69% to over 1M units for the first time. Europe remained the largest region for LCD TVs with a 38% share followed by North America at 27% and Japan at 23%. By size, 32" 1366 x 768 LCD TVs became the single most popular LCD TV in Q2'05 with a 21% share, up from 13% followed by 20" 640 x 480 with an 18% share. Sharp remained the #1 brand with an 18% unit share and 20% revenue share worldwide. On a unit basis, Philips/Magnavox, Samsung, Sony and LGE remained #2 - #5. On a revenue basis, Philips/Magnavox remained #2, Samsung overtook Sony for #3, Sony fell to #4 and LGE remained #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Sharp led in Japan and North America, Philips led in Europe, Hisense led in China and Samsung led in ROW.
-- Plasma TV shipments grew 24% Q/Q and 89% to a record 1.13M units while revenues rose 13% and 37% Y/Y to $3.1B. Its unit and revenue shares reached record levels, with units rising from 2.0% in Q1'05 to 2.9% in Q2'05 and revenues growing from 15% in Q1'05 to 18% in Q2'05. All regions except China enjoyed double-digit Q/Q growth with Japan rising the fastest up 77% after seasonally weak Q1'05. Europe remained the largest plasma TV market on a unit basis with a 33% share followed by North America at 30% and ROW at 15%. On a revenue basis, however, North America was the largest market with a 33% share due to increased penetration of HD and larger sizes. The plasma TV share of the 40"-44" TV market surged from 64% to 76% while its share of the 50"-54" market jumped from 15% to 22%. 42" ED remained dominant with a 56% share followed by 42"-43" HD with a 23% share and 50" at 9%. Panasonic drove the plasma TV market in Q2'05 on 90% Q/Q growth boosting its share from 17% in Q1'05 to 27% in Q2'05. It remained #1 worldwide followed by LGE, Samsung, Philips with Hitachi overtaking Pioneer for #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Panasonic led in Japan, North America and Europe while Changhong led in China and LGE led in ROW.
-- Microdisplay RPTVs were up 49% Y/Y but fell 11% Q/Q on channel inventory concerns and loss of share to plasma TVs. Worldwide, all microdisplay technologies (DLP, LCD and LCOS) declined sequentially, with DLP down 1%, LCD down 16% and LCOS falling 27%. As a result, the DLP share rose from 39% to 43%, with LCD RPTVs leading with a 53% share, down from 56%. Regionally, North America continues to dominate this category, earning an 84% share in Q2'05, down from 86% in Q1'05 although shipments fell 13% Q/Q while rising 52% Y/Y. Microdisplay RPTVs were particularly dominant in the 60"+ market, holding a 69% share, up from 61%. The unit and revenue rankings remained the same as last quarter with Sony leading followed by Samsung, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Hitachi. However, the gap between the leaders narrowed, with Sony's unit share falling from 44% to 36% and Samsung's share rising from 21% to 25%.
-- CRT RPTV shipments fell 37% Q/Q and 39% Y/Y to 531K units and a 1.4% unit share, down from 1.9% in Q1'05 and 2.2% in Q2'04. All regions declined at a double-digit rate on both a Q/Q and Y/Y basis. China suffered the largest Q/Q decline due to seasonal weakness and gains by aggressively priced plasma TVs. North America remained the leading region for CRT RPTVs with a 54% share, up from 50%, while ROW overtook China with a 19% to 18% advantage. CRT RPTVs continued to lead the 50"-54" TV market with a 40% share, down from 52% and slightly above microdisplay RPTVs at 38%. TTE overtook Sony to become the top brand worldwide on a unit basis followed by Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi. On a revenue basis, TTE also overtook Sony which fell to #2 with Samsung rising to #3, Toshiba falling to #4 and Hitachi remaining #5. By region on a revenue basis, TTE led in North America, Samsung led in Europe, Changhong remained #1 in China and Samsung remained #1 in ROW.
In terms of worldwide TV shipments and revenues by supplier, Samsung overtook Sony for the first time on a revenue basis as shown in Table 1. Samsung was in the top 3 on a revenue basis in all TV technologies. Panasonic's strong plasma TV position propelled it to the #2 position worldwide, just slightly behind Samsung. Sony fell to #3 as it lost share in most TV technologies.
On a worldwide unit basis by supplier, LGE overtook TTE to earn the top position worldwide with a 9.6% share on 13% growth as shown in Table 2. LGE benefited from the top position in CRT TVs and top 5 positions in flat panel TVs.
