TV Makers - No OLED TVs for 2013

Here we go again! Year after year, going back to at least 2005, TV makers have been promising the impending availability of OLED TVs (see my reports from CES 2007, 2008, and 2011) and last year, at CES 2012, both LG and Samsung finally had, what looked like, large screen OLED TVs (with model numbers) that were just about ready to come off the assembly line and make it to store shelves.

There was even word that LG was committed to start selling the cutting edge TVs before the end of the year.

However, next came word that initial OLED TV shipments would be delayed until 2013, and now looks like arrival of OLED TVs will be delayed longer, retreating to a hoped-for wide release in 2014, as production complexity, resulting in higher costs, continue to be a problem.

As a result, LG and Samsung, the companies that were closest to getting OLED TVs onto store shelves and consumers' homes, have decided, in the meantime, to put their efforts into 4K UltraHD LED/LCD TVs as the more profitable, easier-to-manufacture solution going into 2013.

Perhaps Sony should make a move with its alternative Crystal LED display technology.

For more on this continuing story, read the reports from The Register and Broadband News

UPDATE 1/2/13: In a welcome about-face, LG is in the process of taking pre-orders for its 55-inch OLED TV, but there is more to the story. Check out the details in my report: LG Announces Pre-Orders for OLED TVs

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