Slim LCD TVs with LED light sources will rise rapidly to exceed 50 million units by 2012, according to Displaybank, the Korea-based market research company.

After a slow start, with only 2.4% penetration in 2009, or 3.3 million units, LED usage in LCD TV backlights will grow to 25.6 million units in 2011 and 52.3 million units in 2012, with the latter figure representing more than 25% market penetration, according to Displaybank.

The numbers largely exceed the initial industry expectation, Allen Ji, Senior researcher at Displaybank said. Allen Ji analyzed such phenomenon that "as the slimming trend rises for the biggest marketing point in the future LCD TV industry, most TV makers launched, or scheduled to launch, slim LCD TV with LED BLU applications in advance. Moreover, unlike CCFL which has been used as LCD TV light source, LED is environmental friendly because mercury is not utilized. Such characteristic will further accelerate LED employment". Allen Ji added that "LED makers that are searching for new "killer application" after mobile phone led the LED LCD TV market expansion".