uhd2808_news 01/09/2015 11:58 Page 3
4K TV shipments to grow 147%
ccording to the
worldwide TV market
report from
Futuresource Consulting, 4K TV
shipments are expected to grow
by 147% in 2015, despite overall
2% fall in TV sales.
Global TV sales rose in 2014 by 3%
to reach 235 million units, with trade
value up to $94 billion. The TV market
landscape remains varied across the
globe, with some regions, such as
Latin America, experiencing
significant growth, caused by the
Brazilian World Cup and the start of
analogue switch-offs in the region,
which are set to continue beyond the
forecast period. Europe, too, enjoyed
3% growth. APAC, however, saw declines
during 2014 but remained the largest region
A
globally in 2015 will fall by 3% to $91 billion.
This decline in sales value is due mainly to a
However, according to
Futuresource, the decline won't last,
with larger screens and 4K models
being adopted faster than previously
forecast. Whilst industry opinion on
curved screens remains mixed, strong
growth is expected from them in 2015,
with the growth in the 4K market
helping their performance.
Meanwhile, Smart TV continues to
grow its share of the market, although
not at the pace previously anticipated.
"Although we expect to see a
decrease in worldwide shipments in
2015, Futuresource expects the TV
market to recover well in the longer
term," commented Jack Wetherill,
senior market analyst, Futuresource
Consulting. "In the coming years
Futuresource believes that replacement
“Futuresource expects the TV market to recover well in the longer term."
for TV demand, accounting for 37% of
shipments. With saturation in many countries
within the region relatively low, Futuresource
expects growth to return in the coming years.
The report anticipates that trade value
Comcast: 'We're
ready for 4K'
Marcien Jenckes,
Comcast's EVP of
consumer services, has
suggested that from a
network and technology
perspective, the
operator is “ready
today” for delivering 4K
and HDR content.
He told TechHive that
like many things,
consumer demand would
determine how fast 4K
and HDR content become
pervasive. “The
reality is that
today, the total
number of
movies and
shows being
produced
in 4K
UHD
and
HDR is
still
continued depressed market in China as well
Russia's economic issues. Economic
uncertainty continues to affect many markets
in Europe, contributing to expected declines
in many countries across the continent.
quite small. Our job is to
make sure when the
networks and studios
really start to lean into
developing this type of
content, we have the tools
in place to deliver a great
experience,” he said.
“From a network and
technology perspective,
we’re ready today. Last
year, we launched an
Xfinity in UHD app on
Samsung TVs that
includes NBCU content,
IMAX films and more.
Later this year, we’ll have
a 4K set-top box and 4K
UHD On Demand library
available to all of our
video customers. We’ve
always been a leader
when it comes to
providing the
highest quality
video experience
across platforms
and 4K won’t be
any different.”
4 EUROMEDIA UHD Special
demand will increase with sets bought at the
start of flat panel boom being upgraded.
Also, the shift in consumer preference to
larger screen sizes will help the performance
of 4K sets."
Canal+ trials UHD
simulcast
French pay-TV operator
Canal+ has launched
an Ultra-High
Definition test
channel,
inaccessible to
subscribers,
broadcast on the Astra
1L satellite.
The group, which has
officially announced the
arrival of a UHD simulcast
of its premium pay-TV
channel for 2016 to
coincide with the launch
of a new Cube STB, is
currently dedicating the
4K trial channel to
technical tests.
In 2016, Canal+ UHD is
set to offer the same
schedules as Canal+ HD
but not all programmes
will be in native UHD.
Canal+ plans initially to
bring the UHD version of
cinema
and sport
content as well as of its
original TV series.
Operator Canalsat is
also discussing with
thematic channels
obtaining UHD versions as
soon as possible that it
could bundle into an
additional offering.
In France, 210,000
households are already
equipped to receive UHD
content, with GfK research
forecasting that 800,000
4K TV sets will be sold
this year.