In the first half of 2009, sales figures of China's colour TVs plummeted considerably. Himfr's data show that in the first half of 2009, sales volume in each month showed a downward trend in varying degrees compare to last year. In the first half-year of 2009, the total sales were 15 million units, down by 20% year-on-year.

Although the sales volume of China's colour TV market slipped, the LCD flat-panel TV market remained strong. Flat-panel colour TV enterprises have accelerated the pace of transformation, with main enterprises drastically reducing production of CRT TVs.

At present, LCD TV accounts for about 37% of the small and medium size colour TV market, which is a growth of 3 times compared to same period of last year; for 28 to 32-inch medium-size TVs, LCD TV accounts for more than 60%.

With prices of LCD TVs continue to come down, the pricing gap between LCD TVs and CRT TVs has became narrower, that CRT TVs are quickly losing their competitive advantage especially in the small and medium size TV market, such as 22, 26-inch for LCD TVs and 21, 25-inch for CRT TVs. In the second half of 2009, CRT TVs that are priced above 1,000 yuan is the primary alternative to LCD TVs, accounting for 30% of the 21-25 inch market; in the above 2000 yuan market, 29-inch CRT TV takes up about 30% of the TV market.

Himfr analyst forecasts that over the next four years, China's colour TV market will continue to maintain a steady growth trend, with proportion of flat-panel TV further increase, product upgrade will be the main pulling power for market development.

In 2009, affected by the situation in the first half, although the prospect for colour televisions in the second half is likely to get better, factors such as panel shortages and the increase in prices may slow market growth, that sales figures are not likely to make up the loss suffered in the first half of the year.

Himfr's analysts believe that in 2009, the demand for colour TV in China is still high, and that in the second half of 2009, the competition in the market will become intensified. Over the next four years, the development of TVs will likely be dominated by larger sizes, full HD, support for interactive entertainment and environmental protection.