San Juan Capistrano, California – May 28, 2015. PMA Research (PMA), the worldwide market information experts on large displays, has published their latest report on large-format (32” and larger) displays. Unit sales of commercial-grade models rose a solid 14% in Q1 2015 over Q1 2014, according to the latest data from leading U.S. IT and Pro AV Distributors. Reports suggest that sales may have been even stronger without the double whammy of harsh weather conditions and labor disputes in the West Coast ports impacting supply.

Multiple market segments enjoyed strong gains during the quarter. Shipments of models designated for 24×7 use nearly doubled from last year’s Q1 due in part to the growing adoption of digital signage for use in airports and network operations centers. Models with Ultra-Narrow bezels also saw strong growth as usage of sleek and eye-catching signage is becoming more popular in retail and advertising applications. Finally, use of media-players with flat panel displays saw strong Y/Y growth of 50%, which is a testament to usage of digital signage networks in small-to-medium business applications like quick-serve restaurants, entertainment venues and professional offices.

The trend in screen sizes also continues to edge toward larger screens.  But in the professional segment, smaller screen sizes still dominated with 40”-49” models taking over 50% of the unit volume share in March.

“Manufacturers continue to sell the advantages of commercial-grade glass, the longer warranties, covering 18- to 24-hour daily operation,” says PMA analyst Rosemary Abowd. “We see additional growth in professional models in April with a 2% increase over March’s lofty levels. Even more significant, year-over-year sales were up 46% and revenues were up 55% from April 2014. These are very encouraging signs for the business.”

About PMA Research

PMA Research specializes in worldwide front projector market information, including High-End projectors, Mainstream projectors, and Pico and Personal projectors. Expanded coverage includes U.S. Professional Large-Format Flat Panel Display market information. Their Pro AV Flat Panel Tracking Service offers timely sell-through data and analysis on unit sales, revenues and true volume-weighted street prices of Professional Large-Format Flat Panel Displays sold by leading U.S. dealers, systems integrators, and distributors.

PMA Research was formerly Pacific Media Associates, which was established by Dr. William Coggshall. Dr. Coggshall was a co-founder of Dataquest (now part of Gartner) and helped start the syndicated high-tech market information business. PMA Research has offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company’s US headquarters is located at 25852 Avenida Cabrillo, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Phone: +1 (949) 493-4601.  www.pmaresearch.com