Sony OLED TV to hit Europe in 2009

Rumours have been circulating that Sony is planning to launch an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV in Europe next year, and further fuel has been added to the fire with Japan’s influential Nikkei business newspaper backing up these claims.

It seems likely that the European set will be an updated version of Sony’s XEL-1, which features a 3mm thin panel and boasts breathtaking image contrast, brightness and colour.

Unlike traditional LCDs, the next generation OLED sets do not need a backlight to function.

As well as being more power-efficient in operation, they are expected to cost less to manufacture than LCDs and plasma displays.

Sony has already launched 11-inch OLED TVs in both the Japanese and US markets.

In the US the XEL-1 sells for around $2,000, and it is likely to cost around £1,000 when it reaches the UK.

The OLED market is expected to grow rapidly, with 3 million units expected to be sold in 2012.