April 24, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] LG Display is in talks with a Japanese TV maker to supply its organic light-emitting diode panels for TVs, local new outlet ETnews reported on Nov. 14.

The report added that the Japanese firm, presumably Sony, is highly likely to unveil its first OLED TV at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. 

Industry watchers has projected the Japanese firm’s possible entry could heat up the OLED TV race.

Currently, LG Electronics is the dominant market leader with a whopping 96 percent market share, while Chinese rivals are eyeing the market as they are shifting its focus from liquid-crystal display TVs to more lucrative OLED TVs.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest TV maker, has repeated no immediate entry into the market, focusing more on upgrading its LCD technology.

OLEDs boast better color contrast and higher energy efficiency compared to conventional LCDs. But high costs and low yield rates have most TV makers stick to LCDs for better profitability.

LG, which is still losing money on the OLED TV business, plans to beef up production to 2 million units next year and 2.5 million units by 2018.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)