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3D TV sales fall flat
Television manufacturers switch focus to UHD TVs as home 3D fails to excite.
It is hardly the biggest shock in the consumer electronics world. 3D home viewing has failed to take off and now a number of TV manufacturers are reducing the range of models with this feature as the focus switches to UHD/ 4K models. UHD provides picture enhancement technologies that are far more accessible to the viewer than a 3D system which required the wearing of special glasses to view, what was a very limited range of content, in the home.
Both Samsung and LG are to start phasing out 3D. Samsung is not going to install 3D capabilities in new products, and LG is going to reduce the number of 3D TVs they product by half.
“Although 40% of all TVs last year had 3D functions, only 20% of TVs this year will have 3D functionality,” said LG Electronics. “Because there are still consumers who enjoy 3D movies and others, we are going to apply the 3D feature mainly on premium products.”
The lack of sales for Samsung’s 3D glasses is being cited as a reason for dropping the 3D capabilities. “Even though we had been supplying 3D glasses until last year, there is no any request for new supply this year.” said a Samsung Electronics’ partner. “It is seen that Samsung Electronics is not going to apply 3D technology into its new TVs.”
“3D TV was a failure due to content, prices and technology,” was the judgement of a recent report from market research company IHS, “The fact that people have to wear glasses to watch 3D TVs did not work too well for consumers.”
techUK are working on behalf of device manufacturers to support the development of a Pan European UHD premium standard. To find out more about our work in this area and to get involved contact: Paul Hide
