Sales of 4K TV sets tipped to grow 38% this year

The Sony XBR-X930D

Sales of 4K Ultra High Definition TV sets are due to grow by 38% in 2017 and will account for more than a third of the worldwide TV market, according to Futuresource Consulting.

The research firm said the sales growth follows a strong 2016 when 4K UHD surpassed 25% of total TV sales, despite a scarcity of regular broadcast 4K UHD content in most regions.

Despite this, the total TV market was flat year-on-year at 226 million units in 2016 following a small decline in 2015, according to Futuresource’s Worldwide TV Market Report.

“The outlook this year is also one of zero growth, with established markets especially challenged,” said David Tett, ‎market analyst at Futuresource.

“Mature markets remain flat in the face of saturation. In a bid to entice consumers to upgrade their sets sooner rather than they would otherwise, vendors are emphasising the new features found in the latest sets – 4K UHD, OLED, High Dynamic Range, curved screens and the latest smart TV features and services.”

Futuresource said that average TV prices in 2016 approached US$550 and are expected to rise due to increasing 4K UHD and OLED sales, and demand for larger screen sizes.

However, it also noted that 2017 is a year in which there are “no major worldwide broadcast events, nor many significant analogue to digital switch-overs to kick-start sales”.