Samsung retains flat-panel TV market lead for ninth year

Samsung Electronics topped the global flat-screen TV market by sales last year, keeping its No. 1 ranking for the ninth straight year. It also ranked first in the UHD TV market for the first time.

According to global market research firm Display Search on Monday, Samsung Electronics` share in flat-panel TV market was a record 29.2 percent in 2014, widening its gap with LG Electronics (16.7 percent) by 12.5 percentage points. The two Korean brands accounted for a combined 45.9 percent of the global TV market.

Samsung Electronics also secured the top spot in the UHD TV market with a 34.7 percent market share, whereas in 2013 it had ranked the third place after Japan`s Sony (22.9 percent) and China`s Skyworth (14.4 percent). LG Electronics ranked second with 14.3 percent.

The two leading Korean companies` outstanding results were possible due to their robust performance in Chinese market where they boosted their UHD TV market share to 20 percent. Samsung also maintained strong presence in the North American market with a 35.4 percent share. "We targeted both the premium and lower-end market and it worked," Samsung Electronics explained.

Samsung aims to keep its No. 1 ranking for the 10th straight year this year in TVs on the back of SUHD TVs unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas early this year. The share of UHD TVs in the global TV market is forecast to top 30 percent this year, which will likely help Samsung solidify its position.

"Despite unfavorable market conditions last year we achieved the global top position for nine straight years thanks to various models," said Kim Hyeon-seok, head of Samsung`s video display division. "We will strive to keep this record based on high value-added SUHD TV displays."