Sony increased its unit share of flat panel TVs to 27.1% in the second quarter of 2010 and took top share position in the India market, according to the DisplaySearch. The total TV market in India for 2009 was around 13.8 million units, making it the third-largest country market for TVs in the world, ahead of Japan and Brazil, and accounting for 37% of the Asia Pacific TV market.

In the second quarter, the unit shipments share of flat panel displays (FPDs) was 45% in Asia Pacific, the lowest of any region, while in India, FPD unit shipment share was only 18% of the total shipments of 3.7 million units, as CRT TVs are still the primary TV technology.

"LCD TV sales in India are growing on year at nearly 100%," noted Indrajit Ghosh, DisplaySearch's director for India and South Asia. "In 2010, we expect LCD TV sales to exceed three million units in India."

"The India TV market has great potential for flat panel TVs to grow in 2011 and beyond. Developed regions like Japan, US and Europe will complete the transition to flat panel TVs by the end of 2011 or first half of 2012, when most analog broadcasting will be cut off," noted Hisakazu Torii, VP of TV market research for DisplaySearch. "Although Samsung and LG Electronics continue to be strong in emerging markets, Sony has approached the Indian flat panel TV market successfully with strong brand awareness and appropriate products for the Indian consumer."

There is strong competition among the three major brands in the Indian flat panel TV market, which have a combined share of 70% or more of shipments. Samsung had top unit share in 2009, but dropped to number two with a 22.7% share. LG had top unit share in the first quarter of 2010, but dropped to number three with a 21.1% share.