Menlo Park, CA--Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the global market information experts on large-screen displays, reports that unit sales for rear-projection HDTVs grew by 23 percent for December 2005 compared with the prior month. Their December 2005 RPTV Tracking Service also shows that sales revenues also increased slightly more with a 24-percent rise.

"The overall average sales price increased slightly due to a small shift toward more expensive models," according to Rosemary Abowd, vice president of Pacific Media Associates. "Average selling prices for 23 of the top 25 models were flat or down slightly. Increased sales for the more expensive LCoS models helped boost the overall revenues."

The LCoS segment grew to 19 percent of the rear-projection HDTV market, largely on the strength of Sony's SXRD models. The 50-inch and 60-inch models were Number 2 and 3 on the top sellers list, with Sony's 42-inch KDF-E42A10 LCD model taking the top position. Sony's 50-inch LCD rear-projection model held the fourth place, which gave Sony the top position overall, with 39.8-percent unit market share and 41.8 percent of the total revenues.

In spite of this end-of-year increase, rear-projection unit sales were down 6 percent compared with December 2004. During 2005, tremendous pressure from flat panel televisions kept down rear-projection sales. In December 2005, the $1,750 average street price for a 42-inch enhanced-definition plasma television was about the same as for rear-projection models of similar size, and average prices for high-definition 42-inch plasma were approaching $2,000. As a result, rear-projection televisions are having a difficult time competing in this size segment.

For more information, visit www.pacificmediaassociates.com.