Worldwide 4K UHD TV growth is lower than expected for the year, according to a new Futuresource Consulting report, but it still remains healthy with shipments predicted to increase by 75 percent in 2016. Sales for the year in the United States were less than expected by the research firm, but it says that 4K UHD TVs will be a showpiece product for many retailers this Black Friday. And that won’t just happen in the United States, but other global markets that now embrace the sales frenzy, Futuresource notes.
Other research also point to a solid Black Friday and overall holiday sales potential for 4K TVs, including a recent prediction by IHS. Paul Gagnon, senior manager at IHS Technology, expects a strong season for the sets since 4K is less expensive than it has been in the past, and the TVs now feature some of the larger screen sizes that consumers desire. More on the IHS research is available here.
Futuresource forecasts that by 2020, 4K UHD’s share of the TV market will rise to 60 percent of total worldwide shipments. Smart TVs are predicted to make up 59 percent of total shipments in 2016, and smart TV features will be in three out of every four sets by 2020, the report says.
As for the overall TV market worldwide, the Futuresource research indicates there was a 2 percent drop in TV shipments last year, but 2016 is looking better with the market flattening out to end the year on 225 million units, achieving a value of $86 billion.
“Although we’ve seen the overall global picture stabilize this year, there have still been some major events at a country level with France likely to see 20 percent growth whilst Mexico and Brazil are both forecast to suffer declines of over 10 percent,” Jack Wetherill, senior market analyst at Futuresource Consulting, observes. “Our research generates market data for 25 different countries and we’re seeing signs that demand in China will grow by at least 5 percent this year, with the country accounting for one out of every five TV shipments on the planet. India and other countries within Asia Pac are also making a positive impact on the worldwide figures.”
