U.S. consumers are looking for 3D and Smart TVs as they make new purchases, most of which feature both options.
LED balloons
Liquid crystal display televisions (LCD TV) that employ light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting technology--commercially known as the LED TV—have attracted the most consumer attention. This is largely because of targeted ad campaigns for LED TVs that highlight a thinner bezel, brighter screen and more vivid colors. Results indicate that 30 percent of U.S. consumers who purchased a television 12 months before the survey said that the LED TV proved to be a main purchase driver.
Along with consumer preference, other factors are making LED backlighting more popular, with LED TV shipments in the United States soaring to almost half of total TV set units in 2012, and surpassing those of CCFL-backlit LCD TVs for the first time. The price gap is shrinking between LEDs and LCD TVs using the older CCFL backlighting technology. Meanwhile, more LED TV models are available.
Size and price trump everything
The biggest factor driving television purchasers among U.S. consumers during the 12 months before the survey was the desire for a larger set. Half of consumers indicated size was a factor in their purchase. This percentage declined to only 48 percent for those planning to buy a television.
The study also revealed that interest in bigger screen sizes is increasing in the United States, with 36 percent of consumers planning to buy a TV of at least 50 inches, up from 24 percent among consumers that purchased a TV the previous year.
However, price was the biggest factor for those planning to buy a set, at 53 percent, up from 27.9 percent for those who already bought a set.
