Technological breakthroughs such as 3D TV are happening quicker and quicker, according to an industry expert.

John Dixon, head of brand communications for Panasonic UK, said that there is always something new coming through and the time between inventions is getting shorter and shorter.

He added: “The point is, it is happening quicker and quicker and for a manufacturer like Panasonic, you have to be ahead or you get left behind. We have just got into Blu-ray and now we have 3D Blu-ray which will become a reality in 2010.”

New developments are also providing the consumer with better picture resolutions or sound quality, according to Mr Dixon, having seen technologies evolve from the likes of vinyl to CD, CD to DVD and then DVD to Blu-ray.

Despite the economic downturn, a recent survey by Ofcom found that the TV industry is still producing impressive results, with a growth of 1.3 per cent to reach £11.2 billion in industry revenue by the end of 2008.

Customers should not place too much importance on the speed of a TV’s response time, according to an industry commentator.

Adam Turner, writing for PCAuthority.com, said that people should be wary of any manufacturers who push low response time as a major selling point as there is a lot more to LCD picture quality.

He added: “Logic would dictate that the TV with the lowest response time must be the best but this often is not the case. A lightening fast response time, such as fewer than six milliseconds, often comes at the expense of colour accuracy and viewing angles.”

Response time determines the rate at which pixels in an LCD panel can change colour, with a low response time often meaning that fast moving objects such as football players or a cricket ball are less likely to blur across the screen.

Another consideration for those looking to buy an LCD TV is whether they want a high definition (HD) ready television.

Cable and satellite services allow users to view HD channels through some LCD TVs, bringing live sporting events to life.

Revenue from Samsung plasma panel screens increased by nearly a quarter in the three months to July, suggesting heightened demand for the technology.

Overall, Samsung SDI profits increased by 17 per cent in the second quarter of this year, driven in part by growing interest in its plasma screen panels.

The company also expects global plasma panel demand to increase during the six months to the end of the year.

Speaking to Smart House, analyst at Samsung Securities Lee Jong-wook said: "Demand in the second half is rising faster than expected due to strong restocking demand from its customers on top of strong seasonality."

In June 2009, LCD panel shipments hit 46.7 million units, according to data from DisplaySearch’s monthly figures from the TFT LCD Shipments Database.

LCD TV panels had the highest growth, recording shipment increases of 57 per cent, year-on-year.

By comparison, year-on-year shipments for LCD TV panels during June 2008 increased by 8.3 per cent.

Sony Bravia owners will soon be able to stream movies straight on to their television, following a new partnership.

International movie rental service Netflix has announced a new deal with Sony Electronics that will allow subscribers to instantly download streamed movies on to their Bravia TV.

Sony Bravia internet-capable HDTVs and those models compatible with a video link module could soon be connected to a database of more than 12,000 movies and television programmes.

Netflix chief executive officer Reed Hastings welcomed the partnership.

He said: "Sony has been a world leader in consumer electronics for decades.

"We are proud to include Sony Electronics among our CE partners who continue to provide new and exciting ways for Netflix members to instantly watch movies and TV episodes in their living rooms on their TVs."

A Sony Bravia 32-inch LCD TV goes on sale on the MadBid.com auction site tomorrow (July 23rd).