Market reports

According to a new research by DisplaySearch, 3D TV penetration (percentage of 3D TVs among all TVs bought) is down in the US, while it's up anywhere else in the world - especially in western Europe and China.

Surprisingly, 3D TV penetration in China and the middle east is better than in the US and Japan.

DisplaySearch reports that LCD 3D TV shipments reached 6.6 million units in Q3 2011 - a 27% increase compared to last year. 3D TV penetration reached 12%. The passive pattern retarder panel shipments grew 34% and active shutter TVs grew 23%. They say that downstream manufacturers and brands are continuously promoting 3D, and end-user awareness and interest are growing.

DisplaySearch also reports that 250,000 3D monitors were shipped in the quarter, and this is set to grow fast as panel makers plan to ship over 1.5 million units per quarter from Q2 2012 onward.

LG has performed a blind-testing research in Australia - and the results are that 82% prefer LG's passive 3D technology over Active-Shutter 3D (as provided by Samsung and Sony for example). The research was performed over 5 states in Australia with a sample base of 4,060 consumers.

LG 3D TV

Research firm GfK estimates that 3D TV sales in China will rise from 4 million units in 2011 (12% market share) to 10 million units in 2012 (25% market share). This is optimistic - as CMM for example says that 3D TV sales reached only 1.2 million units in the first three quarters of 2011.

LG Electronics says that they aim to become the market leader for 3D TVs in 2012 - and around 70% of its new TVs will be 3D enabled by year's start.

LG LW980T 3D TV

UK's Dixons Retail Group says that 3D TV sales have increased dramatically over the last quarter - a 500% annual growth. 3D TVs now account for 20% of all TVs sold at Dixons. They say that this jump is due to lower prices and more 3D content being available today. 3D is also featured in more and more TVs - about 40% of the company's stock of TVs feature 3D.

Dixons says that passive 3D models (such as the LG LW650T and the Toshiba VL863 series) have sold very well.

According to IHS, in the past year (since June 2010) only 3.5 million 3D Blu-ray discs were sold. And about half of these were bundled with a Blu-ray player. Today there are still less than 100 3D Blu-ray titles available...

Samsung 3D Blu-ray player