Sales of TVs fell in 2012 for the first time in a decade. The trend will be reversed in 2013 where the TV market is expected to be back on the growth track. Ultra HD TVs will drive sales in the coming years.

TV market to grow again in 2013 - 4K to drive sales
TV sales have risen every year for more than a decade but in 2012 global TV sales fell 6 %. In 2013, growth is expected to return and in 2015 Ultra HD TVs will take off, according to analyst firm Futuresource.


The Chinese are expected to be at the forefront of 4K. Here you see Seiki’s 39” Ultra HD TV that is available for less than 700 dollars in USA

Futuresource expects the TV market to grow at an average annual growth rate of 4 % to 2017. In 2017, more than 270 million TVs will be sold. Emerging markets will drive growth and will account for 67 % of TV sales in 2017, up from 60 % today. After several years of waning TV sales in Europe and U.S., Ultra HD TVs are also expected to bring back consumer interest in TVs.

Futuresource expects 780,000 Ultra HD TVs to be sold in 2013, up from 62,000 in 2012. They expect Ultra HD TVs to really take off in 2015 due to widespread availability of content and players, and in 2017 they expect more than 22 million Ultra HD TVs to be sold.

China is at the forefront of 4K. Chinese panel manufacturers have recently ramped up production and Chinese TV makers have started selling Ultra HD TVs at extremely low prices. The U.S. market is also expected to drive growth in Ultra HD TVs.

- Source: FutureSource