3-D TV sales lower than expected

Sales of 3-D TV sets have been weaker than expected this year, as 3-D content is lacking and overall TV sales in North America are slack, research firm DisplaySearch said.

DisplaySearch scaled back its worldwide 3-D TV sales forecast this week to 3.2 million sets this year, down from a forecast of 3.4 million made less than three months ago.

It reduced its North America sales forecast even more abruptly, to "just under" 1.6 million units from more than 2 million.

"Set makers have trained consumers to expect rapid price falls for new technology, and consumers seem happy to wait a little," said Paul Gagnon, a DisplaySearch analyst.

In March, TV maker Samsung Electronics said it expected all manufacturers to sell 3 million to 4 million 3-D capable sets combined in the US this year.

In the first half of the year, overall LCD TV sales in North America were down 3 percent from last year, as the economy continued to be slow and TV prices stabilised after rapid price drops.

A 46-inch 3-D TV costs roughly $US300 more than a similar non-3-D model.

DisplaySearch, which is part of NPD Group, is more bullish than ever on the long-term prospects for 3-D.

It doubled its 2014 sales forecast to 90 million units worldwide, noting that manufacturers are committed to the technology.

It doesn't cost much to include the capability to display 3-D in a high-end set.