08.21.2007 — The Plasma TV category continues to outpace all other technologies in the 50-inch and above screen size segment, even outpacing 42-inch PDP sales for the first time in Q2 2007, according to new research.

Quixel Research's "Plasma TV Market Review for Q2 2007" finds that the 50-inch to 59-inch screen size segment topped the overall PDP category, representing almost 48 percent of the category in units.

Commenting on the results of the study, Tamaryn Pratt, principal of Quixel Research, notes that consumers remain enamored with big screen plasmas. "Three of the top five best selling Plasma TVs in the USA were 50-inch models in the second quarter," states Pratt.

"PDP manufacturers are moving to higher ground as the LCD TV competition continues to press on and the 50-inch and above space is where PDP can offer consumers values right now. The price-per-inch [PPI] for an LCD TV between 50 inch and 59 inch was over 65 percent more than the Plasma TV PPI in Q2. The 50-inch to 59-inch PDP screen size segment grew four percent quarter-to-quarter while the 42-inch to 49-inch segment declined 19 percent quarter-to-quarter. Unit sales of 58 inch Plasma TVs were up quarter-to-quarter but has yet to impact the overall category."

The study also finds that rapidly falling ASPs are causing the value for the overall Plasma TV category to decline nine percent from Q1 2007 to Q2 2007, a drop from $1.2 billion to $1.1 billion. In units, the overall Plasma TV market showed an eight percent unit decline in Q2 2007 compared to Q1 2007.

However, on a year-to-year basis, the category was up four percent. First half 2007 sales were up 17 percent when compared to the first half of 2006.

According to the research, the total value of the Advanced TV market in the USA is almost $6 billion in revenues, as of Q2 2007. The Plasma TV segment represents more than 20 percent of that market.