Global LCD TV sales have overtaken those of TVs based on Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology for the first time ever, according to statistics from market watcher DisplaySearch.

LCD TVs accounted for 47 per cent of all sets sold during the fourth quarter of 2007. CRT still raked in a 46 per cent share during the period, but the figure is far removed from the 77 per cent share the technology enjoyed in the first quarter of 2006.

DisplaySearch noted that LCD’s market share improved in every global region during the fourth quarter. For example, it accounted for 86 per cent of the market in Japan and 84 per cent in Western Europe. Developing regions, such as Latin America, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa, saw a combined rise of 106 per cent year-on-year for LCD.

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However, DisplaySearch admitted that CRT’s demise is natural and that LCD is the obvious replacement because it’s “the only other technology that extends down in screen size to less than 20in”. Plasma TV displays, according to the market watcher, don’t currently extend below 32in.

Sony took pole position with a 19.5 per cent cut of the global LCD market during Q4 2007, but the electronics giant was closely followed by Samsung and Philips, which accounted for 19.3 per cent and 10.1 per cent shares respectively. HD 1080p resolution LCD TVs now account for 17 per cent of TVs overall, whilst 57 per cent are over 40in.

In 2006, DisplaySearch announced that such manufacturers made more money from LCD TVs than from CRT sets, during the fourth quarter of 2005, despite shipping more CRT TVs than LCD TVs overall.