Ultra-Slim Flat Panel TVs Dominate 2008 CEATEC Show, According to Latest TV Supply Chain Report from DisplaySearch

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AUSTIN, TEXAS, October 21, 2008—According to the latest edition of the Weekly TV Supply Chain Executive Briefing from DisplaySearch, the highlights of the recent 2008 CEATEC tradeshow in Japan included booths featuring numerous slim and ultra-slim Plasma and LCD TVs from nearly every major manufacturer, ranging from prototypes to currently launching models. Many featured next generation technology, such as LED based backlights and wireless connectivity to achieve these new, exciting form factors.

“The level of excitement generated by these new ultra-slim models was impressive, as was the next-generation technologies on display, including flexible OLEDs,” noted Hisakazu Torii, Vice President of TV Market Research at DisplaySearch. “These new displays will help drive the flat panel TV market forward in the coming years, offering consumers better picture performance and lower power consumption, while also providing both manufacturers and retailers the opportunity to improve profit margins.”

Also featured at the show were “green” eco-friendly models that used less power than previous models, even one by Sharp that was solar-powered and contained fewer hazardous materials. Panasonic was also demonstrating next-generation PDP technology that would enable double the brightness at half the power consumption.

A recent edition of the Weekly TV Supply Chain Executive Briefing included a review of the latest LCD and Plasma panel price trends. DisplaySearch’s near-term outlook for LCD TV panel prices have recently been dramatically reduced, stemming from a worsening supply/demand imbalance and concerns about consumer demand as global economies weaken. Margins for panel makers will decline over the next several quarters as prices drop, but are expected to improve in the second half of 2009. The lowered outlook for panel prices will translate to a reduction in finished set price, opening up the potential for dramatic price declines at retail in time for the 2008 Holiday selling season.

A sample of some recent and recurring topics:

• Monthly LCD and Plasma (PDP) TV Panel Pricing and Forecast
• Fab Capacity, Supply/Demand Outlook
• Monthly LCD TV Panel Shipments by Supplier by Size, Panel Inventory Data, One-month Outlook
• Quarterly Plasma Panel (PDP) Shipments by Supplier by Size
• Quarterly LCD TV Panel Shipments by Supplier by Size
• Monthly LCD TV Panel Pricing Results and Outlook
• Q2’08 North American TV Shipment Highlights
• Flat Panel TV BOM, Cost, Price and Margin Forecast
• Global TV Shipment Forecast by Technology, Region, Size and Resolution
• Sony’s New Product Launch Meeting

DisplaySearch’s Weekly TV Supply Chain Executive Briefing is the perfect tool for executives and high level managers to keep track of the latest developments affecting the TV supply chain. Covered topics include LCD and PDP panel shipments and pricing, LCD inventory, tradeshow highlights, preliminary TV shipment results and other special topics. For more information on this report, please contact Carl Holec at +1.512.687.1505 or Carl_Holec@displaysearch.com or your local DisplaySearch representative for details and pricing.

About DisplaySearch
DisplaySearch, an NPD Group company, has a core team of 58 employees located in Europe, North America and Asia who produce a valued suite of FPD-related market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, studies and analyses. Visit the DisplaySearch blog to read about how our top analysts are interpreting up-to-the-minute issues that impact the display industry, and join us in this discussion about technology and the flat panel industry. The company also organizes influential events worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, DisplaySearch has regional operations in Chicago, Houston, Kyoto, London, San Diego, San Jose, Seoul, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo, and the company is on the web at http://www.displaysearch.com/

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit http://www.npd.com/.