LG and Samsung put OLED TVs on hold

[Smokey]

OLED TVs which made alot of noise at this year Electronic Consumer Show was supposedly be released by end of this year. But problems with manufacturing yield are forcing Korea's big two TV manufacturers to delay their launches until late 2013.

The organic light-emitting diode technology, which promises images much sharper than current LCD TVs has been much touted as the future of TV in the home. But problems making the displays means manufacturers are suffering very high reject rates in production, meaning they can't achieve viable yields from their current capacity.

Making smaller OLED panels (above) for smartphones and tablets is relatively well-sorted now, but scaling up panel sizes to suit their use in TVs is proving problematic. As a result, the total shipments for OLED TVs this year will be 500, down from the 50,000 that was expected.

The two companies are remaining relatively tight-lipped about the delays. Samsung CEO Dr Oh-Hyn Kwon saying only that "We are making progress under our business roadmap. But high prices and lower manufacturing yield are problems".

More info:

LG and Samsung put OLED TVs on hold | whathifi.com

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I think it is fair to mention that Sony also put off their OLED offering because of yield issues.

As good as the panel's technology is, it is not ready for mass production which would lower its price over time.

[Smokey]

Dam it Sir T, I was planning to buy one

By the time they get all the kinks out and mass produce it to lower price, the current LCD technology probably will be in the ball park of OLED in terms of picture quality.