8K TVs to see slow growth in 2019 amid lack of content

The global market for 8K TVs is expected to post weaker than expected growth this year amid a lack of available high-resolution content, market watchers said on Monday.

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc showcased their 8K TVs with quadruple the pixels of Ultra HD models in the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, promoting them as new growth drivers in the premium segment.

Despite the technological advances, industry watchers point out that the 8K market still remains in its infancy due to a lack of content for the standard and steep price tags, Yonhap news agency reported.

According to data compiled by industry tracker IHS Markit, the global shipments of 8K models such as organic light-emitting diode and quantum dot is expected to reach 338,000 units this year, down from 430,000 anticipated in October.

It also lowered its 2018 sales estimate from 18,100 units to 12,500.

Industry watchers pointed out that next generation TVs are forecast to slowly expand their market share in the short term because there was a lack of video content that can fully take advantage of the screen resolution on 8K displays.

"They're marvellous to look at up close, yes, but the stuff you'd actually want to watch -- your favourite movies or Netflix/Amazon Prime shows -- just isn't there. None of it," US tech media The Verge wrote in a recent report.

"And there's no real evidence of that changing any time soon."

--IANS

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