DisplaySearch Indicates Q2'05 Plasma TV Shipments Overtook Projection TV Shipments Worldwide for the First Time; Plasma TV Leaders to Gather at Upcoming DisplaySearch HDTV Conference

Business Wire, August 17, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas -- Plasma TV shipments reached a record high of 1.13M units in Q2'05, up 24% Q/Q and 89% Y/Y according to DisplaySearch's Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. Plasma TVs gained share in all regions and overtook rear projection TVs (RPTVs) for the first time in China and ROW on a unit basis. As a result, plasma TVs overtook RPTVs worldwide with a 2.9% unit share, up from 2.0% in Q1'05. Conversely, the RPTV market fell from 2.9% in Q1'05 to 2.5% in Q2'05 on a 27% Q/Q and 17% Y/Y decline. Plasma TVs now lead RPTVs in all regions except North America where the penetration of 50" and larger TVs remains higher than the rest of the world favoring lower priced RPTVs.

According to DisplaySearch President Ross Young, "The plasma TV market is benefiting from increasingly attractive prices and the rapid decline in the CRT RPTV market which fell 37% Q/Q and 39% Y/Y. A majority of consumers looking to replace their CRT RPTVs in Q2'05 opted for plasma over microdisplay RPTVs with the total projection category down 27% Q/Q and 17% Y/Y. Supporting this growth was a 28% decline in blended plasma TV prices over the past year."

Panasonic drove the plasma TV market in Q2'05 with shipments rising 90% enabling its global market share to surge from 17% to 27%. It remained #1 in Japan, North America and Europe gaining share in each region. It held particularly dominant shares in Japan and North America at 66% and 33%. LGE, Samsung and Philips maintained the #2 - #4 positions worldwide with Hitachi overtaking Pioneer for #5 and Sony remaining #6.

Due to Panasonic's strength, Matsushita overtook LGE to become the #2 plasma panel supplier with Samsung SDI remaining #1. Matsushita's share surged from 14% to 25%, while Samsung SDI held a 31% share, down from 33%.

DisplaySearch analysts, five of the top six plasma brands in North America and the leading plasma TV panel supplier will address the latest plasma TV results and market outlook at the upcoming DisplaySearch HDTV Conference 2005, which will take place August 23-24 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

DisplaySearch analysts from the U.S. and Asia will present information about plasma TVs from a variety of viewpoints:

--  Q2'05 results for plasma TVs and panels by region, size, brand
        and resolution

    --  A new plasma TV forecast through 2009 by region, size and
        resolution

    --  A new plasma TV cost model and latest cost and price
        projections

    --  Results from its just completed Advanced TV Performance Report
        comparing plasma TV performance vs. LCD TVs, DLP RPTVs, LCD
        RPTVs and LCOS RPTVs.

Leading plasma TV brands and panel suppliers will also discuss the plasma TV market outlook.

Pioneer's Director of Product Planning Paul Meyhoefer will discuss how they plan to improve performance and reduce costs. He will also discuss the results of a new study examining the myths and truths of plasma TVs.

LGE's Director of Product Development Tim Alessi, will discuss plasma's current standing and outlook by screen size in light of market factors such as price trends, consumer awareness and improvements in plasma technology and reliability.

Samsung SDI's VP of Marketing Chris Kim will discuss the plasma panel supply/demand outlook, how plasma module suppliers are improving performance and reducing cost and the timing and outlook for 1080p plasma TVs.

In addition, in the keynote session, Panasonic VP Jeff Cove, Samsung VP Jim Sanduski and Sony VP Greg Gudorf will all address how their companies currently position plasma TVs vs. other technologies and whether or how they expect that to change in the future. They will also discuss their respective outlooks for each TV technology by screen size and the outlook for 1080p TVs.

A full agenda can be found at www.displaysearch.com/hdtvconference.>

Sponsors of the event include:

    --  Platinum: Samsung LCD Business

    --  Gold: Analog Devices, ATI Technologies, Gennum, Panasonic,
        Syntax Groups and Zoran

    --  Silver: Delta Electronics and LG.Philips LCD

    --  Bronze: Silicon Optix, Texas Instruments DLP(TM) Group and
        VOOM HD Networks

    --  Media/Trade Association: 1394 Trade Association,
        CustomRetailer, Dealerscope, HDTV Magazine, HighDef Magazine,
        HDTVSolutions.com, Home Theater Magazine, HomeToys,
        ProjectorCentral.com, Stereophile, Ultimate AV, VESA and
        Widescreen Review

For more information about registering, sponsoring or exhibiting, please visit www.displaysearch.com/hdtvconference or contact Kendra Smith at 512-459-3126, ext. 107 or kendra@displaysearch.com.

About DisplaySearch

DisplaySearch has a core team of 29 employees located in North America and Asia who produce a valued suite of market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, studies and analyses, and they organize influential industry events worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, DisplaySearch has regional operations in Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, Kyoto, San Diego, San Jose, Seoul, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo, and the company is on the Web at www.displaysearch.com.