Plasma TV shipments reached a record high of 1.13M units in Q2'05, up 24% Q/Q and 89% Y/Y according to DisplaySearch's Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. Plasma TVs gained share in all regions and overtook rear projection TVs (RPTVs) for the first time in China and ROW on a unit basis. As a result, plasma TVs overtook RPTVs worldwide with a 2.9% unit share, up from 2.0% in Q1'05. Conversely, the RPTV market fell from 2.9% in Q1'05 to 2.5% in Q2'05 on a 27% Q/Q and 17% Y/Y decline. Plasma TVs numberw lead RPTVs in all regions except Numberrth America where the penetration of 50" and larger TVs remains higher than the rest of the world favoring lower priced RPTVs.

According to DisplaySearch President Ross Young, "The plasma TV market is benefiting from increasingly attractive prices and the rapid decline in the CRT RPTV market which fell 37% Q/Q and 39% Y/Y. A majority of consumers looking to replace their CRT RPTVs in Q2'05 opted for plasma over microdisplay RPTVs with the total projection category down 27% Q/Q and 17% Y/Y. Supporting this growth was a 28% decline in blended plasma TV prices over the past year."

Panasonic drove the plasma TV market in Q2'05 with shipments rising 90% enabling its global market share to surge from 17% to 27%. It remained Number 1 in Japan, Numberrth America and Europe gaining share in each region. It held particularly dominant shares in Japan and Numberrth America at 66% and 33%. LGE, Samsung and Philips maintained the Number2 - Number4 positions worldwide with Hitachi overtaking Pioneer for Number 5 and Sony remaining Number6.

Due to Panasonic's strength, Matsushita overtook LGE to become the Number2 plasma panel supplier with Samsung SDI remaining Number1. Matsushita's share surged from 14% to 25%, while Samsung SDI held a 31% share, down from 33%.

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