TV Sales Grow Globally, But Not in North America

North American consumers bought fewer televisions in the second quarter, even as global shipments increased. According to a report from DisplaySearch this week, North American shipments fell 3% from the year-ago quarter -- after growing 1% in the first quarter -- as Americans remained conservative with their spending.

Meanwhile, global shipments jumped as Latin Americans bought more TVs to watch the World Cup and the Japanese government provided incentives for more energy-efficient sets. Latin America television shipments jumped 70% during the quarter, while shipments to Japan rose 56%. Overall, manufacturers shipped 56.2 million sets during the second quarter, up 26% from a year earlier, according to DisplaySearch.

Sluggish domestic TV shipments are a sign that Americans are holding off on new televisions and may be waiting until technologies such as Internet connectivity and 3-D are further developed. Additionally, average television prices are on the rise as those new technologies get integrated, and those higher prices may also be hampering U.S. sales, DisplaySearch says.

Samsung remained the world's most popular flat-panel TV brand, including its global market share to 24% in the second quarter from 22% in the first quarter, DisplaySearch says.