China television market slows

BEIJING - The shipment of flat screen televisions in China declined in 2014 and weakness in the market will continue into 2015, International Data Corporation (IDC) predicted in a report this week.

The total shipment of flat screen televisions in 2014 was estimated at 43.7 million sets, down 3.3 percent year on year, according to the global market intelligence company.

The shipment in 2015 will remain largely the same level as in 2014, and there will be a "soft landing" in the flat screen television market following years of rapid expansion, said the report.

"The demand for televisions largely depends on the development of the real estate market, which is cooling down in China," said Liao Shuhan, a senior market analyst with IDC.

Home appliance subsidy, which was aimed at boosting rural consumption, borrowed from future demand for flat screen televisions, said Liao.

Whether television makers can meet consumer demand for TV upgrades will decide how successful they are in 2015, said the IDC report.