DisplaySearch vice president David Hsieh said that TV panel makers will be introducing new sizes in an effort to reduce costs and increase the “value” of LCD TVs. The new sizes will include 36.5-inch W, 39-inch W, 43-inch W, 48-inch W, and 50-inch W. There will also be new backlight designs, including direct-type LED backlights, thick backlights, and scanning backlights.

In particular the 2012 TV lineup will see brightness reduction, LED package reduction, new slim bezel borders, timing controller reallocation, new PSU designs, as well as thick direct-lit CCFL backlight and thick direct-lit LED backlight development and integration. 2012 could bring a fundamental change to the way TVs are being developed and sold. Instead of bringing the latest and greatest and face immediate price erosion, the industry may be looking at new form factors and more cost-efficient production.

Hsieh thinks that some regions of the world may not care so much about the thickness of a TV and some additional screen sizes may fit better in smaller living spaces. But sizes may not replace brand and price as key criteria for a purchase decision and as we are getting used to thin LED designs, we may not be willing to accept thicker TV designs at this point. Innovation has driven the industry at a fast pace and even if we are still waiting for decent smart TVs and naked 3D TVs, the decline in TV prices has put panel and TV makers in a tough spot. Focusing on cost efficiency is a matter of survival for some manufacturers.