Samsung Electronics plans to launch large-size Micro LED TVs in the second half of 2018 in an effort to shore up its share in the global TV market, according to sources at Taiwan's TV supply chain.

Samsung's LCD TV shipments reached 42 million units in 2017, decreasing 10% from a year earlier, indicated the sources.

Additionally, by focusing on QLED TVs, Samsung took the third position to account for only a 18.5% share in the above US$2,500 high-end TV segment in 2017, the sources noted, adding that the company is likely to see its overall shipments continue falling in 2018 as it has shifted its focus on marketing the above 50-inch models.

Increasing shipments of OLED TVs from LG Electronics, Sony and other vendors in China have brought the downturn for Samsung's TV shipments, the sources noted. OLED TV shipments surged to 745,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2017, up from 218,000 units shipped in the first quarter of the year, according to IHS Markit.

Shipments of the OLED models in the high-end TV segment will remain robust in 2018, with their share in the segment to reach over 60% in the year, the sources estimated.

While Samsung's planned launch of micro LED TVs could be a milestone for the development of TV Industry, it remains to be seen whether such new models will help the company revitalize its waning TV business, commented the sources.