PMA Research has published its latest sell-through tracking report on large-format (32″ and larger) flat panel displays and projectors being sold by leading US distributors who serve commercial markets. In the first quarter of 2018, combined unit volume and revenues of professional projectors and flat panel displays grew in the single-digits when compared to the previous quarter. Year-on-year, revenues grew 23% and unit sales were up 17%.
The growth came from both flat panel and projector sales, buoyed by strong March sell-through, particularly in high-priced UHD resolution panels and laser phosphor projector segments. These segments boosted the revenue growth over 2017, when UHD was still relatively new, and laser phosphor projectors at lower price-points were just entering the marketplace in high volumes.
The average street price for 65″ and above UHD models was 22% higher than FHD models in the first quarter of 2018 and represented 16% of total volume, up from 5% in the first quarter of 2017. Laser phosphor projectors grew to 40% of total revenues in the first quarter of 2018, up from 27% in the first quarter of 2017, driving the overall average street price for projectors up 7% year-on-year this quarter.
