Samsung Electronics plans to buy QD Vision, a
U.S.-based technology firm specializing in quantum dot materials, in its
bid to stay ahead of the next-generation display competition against
LG's OLED TVs.
"We decided to acquire (QD
Vision)," Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) President
Chung Chil-hee told reporters, ahead of a weekly Wednesday meeting with
presidents of Samsung affiliates.
Samsung did not confirm the exact value of the deal. But it is estimated to be some $70 million (82.14 billion won).
Samsung
has been the global TV market leader for 11 consecutive years. The
transaction came as Samsung hopes to tighten its grip on the high-end TV
market by promoting the technological edge of its quantum dot TVs.
The
Seoul-based firm is expected to generate synergy in applying core
technologies for the nano-sized materials, called quantum dots, into its
premium TV lineup, using QD Vision's expertise and patents.
The
U.S.-based firm was established by a group of MIT researchers in 2004,
focusing on developing core technologies for quantum dot materials. The
company has so far partnered with a group of global TV manufacturers _
including China's TCL, Hisense and Sony of Japan.
Samsung
Electronics is seeking to expand its presence in the next-generation
television market by collaborating with QD Vision in such areas as heavy
metal-free quantum dot technologies.
In
particular, the latest announcement is expected to heat up the
already-intense rivalry between Samsung and LG over the next standard
for the TV industry.
LG has aggressively
promoted the technological advantages of its self-lighting OLED pixels,
as they do not require any backlight panels and can deliver a deeper
black color.
But Samsung is expressing
confidence in its quantum dot TVs, with Kim Hyun-seok, president of
Samsung Electronics' visual display division, touting quantum dot LED
(QLED) TVs to be the mainstream of the future TV industry, as it
embraces the core selling points of the LCD and the OLED.
At
this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Kim
highlighted that its quantum dot SUHD televisions come with 1,000 nits
of brightness, the industry's highest level among high-dynamic-range
(HDR) TVs. In recent years, HDR has been the talk of the town in the
television and content industry, as the technology can display a wider
range of dark and light levels, creating more vivid images.
"The
role of quantum dot displays will become more and more important, with
the HDR gaining more traction," he told reporters at CES 2016.
Globally-renowned
content creators _ including Netflix and Amazon _ have recently started
to offer the HDR services, even though it is expected to take more time
for its standardization in the industry.
"The
latest deal is expected to generate massive synergies, as Samsung will
be able to take preemptive actions over potential patents suits by
taking advantage of QD Vision's patents over quantum dot core
technologies," said Hyundai Securities analyst Kim Dong-won.
"Expectations
are that Samsung can expand its reach into the next-generation TV
leadership by releasing its QLED TVs earlier than expected."
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