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Sat, May 28, 2022 | 15:50
Briefs
LG, Sony closer
LGD, 소니와 `달콤한 밀월’
Posted : 2011-10-31 17:56
Updated : 2011-10-31 17:56
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Sony CEO
Howard Stringer
By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Display, the world’s No. 2 manufacturer of flat screens, is looking to partner with Tokyo-based Sony as the latter mulls breaking up its strategic relationship with Samsung to cut costs.

LG is planning its advanced, brighter OLED screens at better prices, sources familiar with the matter told The Korea Times, Monday.

``LG Display has keen interest to sell its OLED screens to the Japanese TV maker. The deal, if realized, is going to give a helping hand to client-strapped LG, which is suffering operating losses,’’ said an industry executive, requesting anonymity.

For flat-screen makers, securing many big set-makers as clients is crucial for

LG Display CEO
Kwon Young-soo
business sustainability. LG Display has LG Electronics, Toshiba of Japan, Philips of the Netherlands and some Chinese television makers as key clients.

But those are not good enough as Samsung has been leading the global TV market, followed by Sony.

``One good sign is that LG Display is shipping more displays to Sony," said another industry executive, asking not to be identified.

LG sold over 700,000 screens for Sony televisions during the third quarter of this year, up from 340,000 in the second, officials and data from market research firms showed.

In the first quarter of 2011, Sony bought some 450,000 LG screens for its 32-inch and 37-inch television sets, they said.

LG’s sales to Sony in the second quarter were 6.8 percent of the latter’s total demand, up from 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Samsung’s supply to Sony during April to June this year declined to 55.1 percent of demand from 64.6, according to the sources.

A Sony spokesman in Tokyo wasn’t available for comment.

Sony is looking to reach an agreement within this year to end its contract with Samsung. Sony runs a 50:50 LCD joint venture with Samsung in the provincial city of Tangjeong.

``LG’s entire LCD sales to Sony will increase to 10 percent of demand by the end of this year. Sony is desperate to foster outsourcing to save procurement costs and overcome rapidly deteriorating prices hit by a continued global oversupply,’’ said a source directly involved with the matter.

OLED deal

Analysts say LG is likely to sign a contract with Sony for ultra-thin, next-generation OLED displays in the wake of the fragile Samsung-Sony partnership.

LG has recently decided that it will launch super-size, organically-powered OLED panels and is going to introduce a 55-inch OLED-equipped flat-screen TV in 2012.

LG Display chief executive Kwon Young-soo believes that its IPS technology is better suited for mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, which is a worry to its rival Samsung which uses OLED displays in its Galaxy variants.

``LG is interested in a partnership with Sony, which plans to expand outsourcing of even OLED panels and we will approach the firm sometime next year,’’ said the source.

OLED panels are more expensive than the current LCD panels as they don’t use backlights. But television majors are migrating to OLED-equipped TVs to find their next revenue source.

Samsung plans to exhibit a 55-inch OLED TV in the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show (ICES) in Las Vegas in January next year, and it will heavily promote them ahead of the London Olympics the same year.

Although LG CEO Kwon publicized the talks with Sony to sell his firm’s film patterned retarder (FPR) 3D screens early this year, LG has yet to do so, according to officials.

Chief financial officer Jeong Ho-young said the company will release a large-sized OLED panel late next year and investment decisions will follow after analyzing the market response.

LGD, 소니와 `달콤한 밀월’
LG디스플레이와 일본 소니(Sony) 와의 `달콤한 밀월’ 관계가 깊어지고 있다. 작년 3분기에 LG디스플레이가 소니의 부품 공급망 (SCM) 관리시스템에 포함된 이후 소니향 디스플레이 판매가 늘고 있기 때문. 특히 액정표시장치 (LCD) 패널 생산을 위해 7년여간 합작관계를 맺어온 삼성전자와 소니가 결별수순을 밟고 있는 것으로 알려지면서 패널고객 확보에 사활을 걸고 있는 LG디스플레이가 `반사이익’을 얻을 수 있을 것으로 전망된다. 31일 회사 및 업계에 따르면 작년 3분기 0.1%에 불과했던 소니의 LG디스플레이의 TV용 패널 구매 비중은 이후 가파른 상승세를 보이며 올 2분기 6.8%까지 늘었다. 같은 기간 소니의 삼성전자 비중은 63.7%에서 55.1%로 떨어진 것으로 나타났다. 글로벌 공급 과잉으로 인한 LCD패널의 가격 급락과 TV판매 부진 등이 맞물려 소니가 패널 조달처를 다양화하고 있는 데 따른 것. LG에 정통한 한 업계 관계자는 ``LG디스플레이가 올 2분기 36만장 정도의 TV용 패널을 소니에 납품했는데 3분기에는 약 2배 이상 늘어 70만장 이상을 납품한 것으로 알고 있다’’며 ``4분기 소니향 비중은 더 늘 것’’이라고 말했다. 이 관계자는 이어 ``올 초 기준 7분기 연속 영업적자를 내고 있는 소니가 TV 사업 규모를 더 축소할 것으로 전망되면서 LG디스플레이가 수혜를 입을 것으로 전망된다’’고 덧붙였다. 소니는 2009년 이후 세계 9개 TV 생산거점을 4개로 줄이고 LG디스플레이 및 대만의 TV기업에 위탁생산을 확대하는 등 비용절감에 적극 나서고 있다. LG디스플레이는 20인치대부터 40인치대까지 다양한 TV용 LCD패널을 생산해 소니에 공급하고 있으며 주력 제품은 소니의 32인치와 37인치 TV인 것으로 알려졌다. 소니와의 비지니스 확대에 대해 손영준 LG디스플레이 홍보팀장은 ``소니와 거래를 확대하고 있는 것은 맞지만 고객사와 관련한 부분은 회사 정책상 일일이 확인해 줄 수 없는 사안’’이라고 말했다. 그러나 3D TV용 패널과 OLED TV용 패널등 차세대 제품을 소니에 본격적으로 공급하는데는 시간이 더 걸릴 것으로 보인다. LCD TV 시장의 침체로 삼성전자와의 결별설까지 나도는 마당에 소니가 LG의 필름방식 3D (FPR 3D)에 손을 대기는 어렵다는 것. 최근 권영수 LG디스플레이 사장은 기자들과 만난 자리에서 ``소니도 현재 FPR 3D 패널 탑재를 검토하고 있다’’며 ``긍정적으로 검토하고 있는 것으로 알고 있으며 조만간 좋은 결과가 있을 것으로 기대하고 있다’’고 말했다. 그동안 삼성의 셔터글라스 방식의 3D TV를 제조해온 소니도 LG디스플레이의 FPR 3D 패널의 거래사가 될 것이라는 희망 섞인 발언. 그러나 FPR 3D 패널의 경우 소니와의 거래 물꼬를 아직 트지 못한 것으로 전해졌다. 소니에 정통한 다른 소식통은 ``OLED TV에 집중하고 있는 LG디스플레이가 내년 하반기 쯤 소니와 접촉해 OLED TV용 패널 공급 여부를 논의할 것으로 예상된다’’며 ``거래가 성사되면 LG디스플레이에겐 큰 호재로 작용할 것’’이라고 내다봤다. 한편 `꿈의 TV’로 불리는 OLED TV는 내년초 라스베이거스에서 열리는 세계 최대의 소비가전전시회인 CES에서 본격적으로 공개될 예정이다. 삼성전자와 LG는 내년 하반기 55인치 OLED TV 양산을 목표로 삼고 시제품을 CES에 출품하기로 결정했다. 별도의 광원을 필요로 하는 LCD와 달리 자체 발광 디스플레이인 OLED TV는 화질 반응 속도가 LCD TV에 비해 1000배 이상 빨라 차세대 TV로 주목받고 있다. LCD와 달리 잔상이 나타나지 않는 데다 LCD보다 얇은 두께가 가능해 꿈의 TV로 불린다. 또한 3D TV의 최대 난제인 어지럼증을 최소화할 수 있는 기술로 떠오르고 있다.
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