Digital TV chipsets sale on the rise

MediaTek and Mstar will have great progress in digital TV chipset shipment
next year by entering a Japanese TV major brand supply chain, according to
DisplaySearch. Digital TV chipset supplier, Trident indicated that they would
keep a close eye on these two competitors. Along with American FCC requirement,
digital TVs, which are imported into the US, are required to be equipped with
ATSC digital TV chipset that offers a great business opportunity. Taiwan IC
design houses such as MediaTek and Mstar have already started to take part in
this growing market. MediaTek took chipset contracts from Samsung and Philip and
will obtain another from a leading Japanese TV brand next year.

According to DisplaySearch, Trident became the biggest digital
TV chipset supplier with marketshare of 24.4 percent, Genesis 19.6 percent, and
Micronas 11.9 percent. The top 10 digital TV chipset suppliers include Trident,
Genesis, Micronas, MediaTek, Mstar, Renesas, TI and Zoran. MediaTek was the
first to introduce digital TV chips for American and European markets. TV chip
accounted for five percent of MediaTek's revenue. The revenue of TV chip will
increase by 10 percent next year. Trident pointed out that MediaTek is
undertaking a price strategy to grab more marketshare. Trident is one of UMCs
major clients.