CES: In 2013, TV Technology Focus Shifts To 4K From OLED

In the television category, the big trend at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be 4K LCD TVs, a technology also called ultra HD. Last year, the focus was on OLED TVs - but the high cost of producing large OLED displays continues to hamper their wide adoption.

The market research firm NPD DisplaySearch asserts that 4K LCD TVs will outsell OLED TVs through 2015.

"This is a result both of the delay in commercialization by OLED TV makers, as well as increased promotion of 4K LCD TVs by several brands," the research firm said in a statement on Friday. "In addition, many Chinese TV brands are currently in the process of launching 4K LCD TVs in the domestic China market. OLED TVs are still expected to launch in 2013, but volumes are expected to be low and prices expected to be very high. 4Kx2K resolution is not exclusive to LCD TV and 4K OLED TVs are also expected to be introduced at some point in premium TV segments."

Meanwhile, the overall TV market remains weak. According to NPD Display Search, the overall TV market was down 6% in units in 2012, and is likely to be flat in 2013. Plasma TV shipments were down 24% last year, NPD estimates. "Looking forward, the market is expected to be flat in 2013 on persistent economic uncertainty before entering a period of gradual growth as conditions improve and as price declines in the TV market accelerate," NPD says.