According to a report by Display search on the LCD TV market share status, Samsung remained the top company with 20.4 percent market share selling 4.837 million units followed by Sony which took up 13.0 percent of the share selling 3.069 million units, LG with 10.0 percent or 2.357 million units, Philips with 9.4 percent or 2.214 million units and Sharp with 9.4 percent percent or 2.053 million units. The remarkable performance was due to the strong sales of the premium ‘Crystal Rose' Full HD LCD TV which sold 0.5 million units during 2Q alone. Samsung became the first company to capture at least 20 percent of the market share for LCD televisions. It has led the market for the eighth straight quarter since Q3 2006. Sales volume during Q2 2008 marked the second biggest after 4.947 million of Q4 2007. During the first half alone, the company sold more than 9 million units putting itself closer to its annual sales goal of 18 million units. Based on the sales revenue, Samsung recorded $4.6 billion or 23.9 percent of the market surpassing 22.2 percent of the previous quarter. This gives the company higher than 20 percent of share both in terms of volume and revenue. The sales revenue of $4.6 billion is a record amount. Samsung ranked top in Q2 sales revenue share with 23.9 percent followed by Sony (17.0 percent), LG Electronics (9.6 percent), Sharp (9.2 percent) and Philips (8.8 percent). Meanwhile, Samsung was the only company that increased its unit share from the previous quarter to 18.3 percent among the top five players in the North American market where TV competition is the fiercest. Samsung ranked top in the total TV market in Q2 with 17.4 percent of unit share (8th in a row) and 22.8 percent of revenue share (10th in a row). Unit share in the total TV market during Q2 was led by Samsung with 17.4 percent followed by LG 13.3 percent, TCL with 7.2 percent, Sony with 7.0 percent and Panasonic with 5.9 percent. Revenue share was also topped by Samsung which achieved 22.8 percent followed by LG (11.5 percent), Panasonic (8.4 percent) and Sharp (6.8 percent). Samsung maintained 20 percent plus share for the 2nd consecutive quarter after 20.7 percent in Q1. In the Middle East and African LCD TV market Samsung achieved a phenomenal 163 percent growth rate during 1H of 2008 to become the top seller with 24.6 percent market share. According to Asia-Pacific GfK report (LCD TV MS status in 1H 2008), Samsung topped the LCD TV market both in terms of units and revenue in most Middle East and African countries. Samsung enjoyed a market share by volume of 39.2 percent in Iran and 40.8 percent in Saudi Arabia while in Turkey it was the leader in revenues with 18.5 percent of total market, it said. President of Samsung Middle East & Africa, Chiwon Suh, said,: “Samsung is doing well in the Middle East and Africa because we won the trusts and hearts of the high-end consumer segment through strong technological and design know-how, luxurious displays, powerful brand image, and premium marketing that appeal to the locals. We will step up our marketing campaign to further strengthen our position as the most powerful leader in the TV market region.”
