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The latest LCD TV market share figures quoted by iSuppli for Q1 2006 show LG Philips leading the way with 22.3% share and 2,353,000 TVs shipped.

LG Philips is the joint venture between LG and Philips.

Note that these figures are always a bit “rubbery” and will vary from market researcher to another.

The top 6 manufacturerers were as follows.

#1 LG Philips 22.3% share and 2,353,000 TVs shipped

#2 Samsung 20% share and 2,115,000 TVs shipped

#3 CMO (Chi Moi) 18.7% share and 1,979,000 TVs shipped

#4 AU Optronics 16.8% share and 1,493,000 TVs shipped

#5 Sharp 13.9% share and 1,505,000 TVs shipped

#6 Quanta 3.7% share and 360,000 TVs shipped

Sharp was previously reported as the #1 manufacturer for the whole of 2005 so clearly the others have accelerated their shipments in the later part of 2005 and early 2006 to overtake Sharp.

Also, of the top 6, three are suppliers to other LCD TV vendors. Many of these vendors will be the “value brands” who brand engineer their LCD TVs and release them under their own brand name.

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Sharp was one of the early major players in the LCD TV market - probably the earliest. Its Aquos brand is definitely one of the best known in the LCD TV world.

Exact market share figures are hard to come by. The general consensus right now is that in terms of 2005 shipment volume Sharp was slightly ahead of Philips, and then Samsung and Sony came next.

However, Samsung and Sony are selling more LCD TVs in the larger sizes so their shipment value is much closer to Sharp and Philips.

Sharp now manufacture LCD TVs in a number of locations - Japan, China and Johor (Kuala Lumpur). Sharp will also begin production of LCD screens at its Kameyama, Japan, plant shortly and will begin manufacture at its LCD module plant in Poland in January 2007.

Sony registered a sales growth spurt in the last 6-9 months and some market research indicates they overtook Sharp in shipment volume in the last quarter of 2005 or the first quarter of 2006.

This is due to a massive advertising campaign for their Bravia LCD TVs accompanied by much more competitive pricing.

LCD TV sales growth is also being helped by the introduction of digital broadcasting around the world. The high definition format is well supported by LCD TVs and gives much better pictures than traditional analogue broadcasts.

Overall the LCD TV market is growing very fast - shipments worldwide were up 135% compared with the same time last year.

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