LCD Signage Sales Pick Up Speed
DisplaySearch, a display market research and consulting firm, indicated in its latest Monthly Large Format Commercial Displays Sell Through Report that large, non-consumer LCDs (26 inches and above) had their highest sell-through quarter ever in U.S. commercial distribution in the third quarter of 2009.
DisplaySearch, a display market research and consulting firm, indicated in its latest Monthly Large Format Commercial Displays Sell Through Report that large, non-consumer LCDs (26 inches and above) had their highest sell-through quarter ever in U.S. commercial distribution in the third quarter of 2009.
According to DisplaySearch, shipments were up 41 percent compared to last quarter and up 19 percent over the time period a year ago. Additionally, September sell-through was up 49 percent from shipments in August, and was the largest sell-through month on record for LCD commercial-use displays, says the firm.
“Sales of professional displays of this kind-typically classified s digital signage displays-are one of the benchmarks used to determine the growth of the digital out-of-home (OOH) market,” said Chris Connery, DisplaySearch vice president of PC and large-format commercial displays, in a statement. “Their installation in OOH environments helps to create a ‘digital inventory’ where advertisers can sell advertising space.”
According to DisplaySearch, these commercial-grade flat-panel screens are used for applications like way-finding, electronic menu boards, flight-information displays, boardroom displays, and classroom displays. However, the same displays are increasingly being used to help build out digital signage advertising infrastructure in OOH environments, says the company.
DisplaySearch Monthly Large Format Commercial Displays Sell Through Report
Researchers say the commercial availability of narrow-bezel LCD displays in the 40-46-inch class has helped to open a new market because they can be more seamlessly tiled together to form larger-sized displays without distracting lines in the overall image. Also, while DisplaySearch notes this market has been traditionally dominated by Samsung, LG, and NEC, more traditional IT companies, such as HP and Cisco, have entered into the mix in recent quarters, helping to further build out the digital signage infrastructure.
According to DisplaySearch, not all digital signage solutions use screens designed specifically for OOH environments. Many major brands also offer standard TV products for commercial installation. As such, shipments of standard TV products (most with a PC interface) through commercial distributors are another indicator of growth in the OOH digital advertising sector’s inventory of available digital displays. DisplaySearch’s September data shows that TVs shipping through commercial distribution channels also rose to record levels with TVs selling commercially up 85 percent year-over-year in the third quarter.
