email: editor@signlink.co.uk DIGITAL / NEWS LG reports operating loss in signage division LG Electronics (LG) has announced strong third-quarter 2024 financial results, despite an operating loss for the arm of the business responsible for the sale of OLED signage. The South Korean manufacturer announced a third-quarter consolidated revenue of KRW 22trn (£12bn) and an operating profit of KRW 751.9bn (£420m). The revenue is apparently the highest ever for the company in its third quarter, and the operating profit is the fourth highest in the company’s history. However, LG Business Solutions, which is responsible for the sale of the company’s OLED signage, reported an operating loss of KRW 76.9bn (£43m) in the same quarter, despite a revenue of KRW 1.40trn (£784m). The company has listed increased logistics costs and intensified competition among the reasons for the loss. The reported operating loss expanded significantly from the previous year, although revenue in fact grew year-over-year. The company has predicted that in the fourth quarter demand for LED signage is expected to grow by double digits compared to the same period last year. The aim is that this growth will offset third quarter losses. According to market research released by advisory group Omdia, overall sales of OLED TV panels are forecast to reach seven million units in 2024, up a third from 2023. Sales growth of OLEDs is expected to increase to roughly ten million units by 2030. LG Home Entertainment, responsible for the sale of commercial TVs, reported stronger results. Revenue increased by 5.2% compared to the same period last year, driven by increased shipments in Europe, a key market for OLED TVs. In September, LG Business Solutions has demonstrated a range of new solutions including transparent OLED at an event hosted by social impact and sustainability consultancy company, ThinkBeyond. The transparent OLED signage was showcased for the first time in the UK at the event. With what has been labelled as “self-lighting pixels”, the displays are said to maintain vivid colours and a high contrast ratio even when they become transparent. The screens can also be equipped with a PCAP touch sensor film. The transparent film can be applied to a glass or acrylic surface to create a touch screen. Brands go back in time for Gladiator II To tie-in with the release of Gladiator II, London’s worldfamous Piccadilly Lights sent brands “back to 211 AD”. Picadilly Lights imitated a ‘frieze’, a Greek piece of architecture most well-known for adorning columns and sitting below rooflines with sets of detailed carvings. The stunt was created by Wavemaker and Paramount Pictures along with DOOH.com, Ocean Outdoor, Mindshare, Publicis One, OLA, and Cheil. Featured on the multi-brand advertisement was Samsung, which advertised its new Neo QLED television with the tagline “colossally entertaining”, as well as TKMaxx or ‘TKMaxximus’. The screen also showed artwork of a chariot rider alongside the tag line: “Great Journeys start with Trainline” and a 3D depiction of someone building a LEGO model of The Colosseum with the line: “Finally something you can build in a day”. Gladiator II, which is a sequel to the multi-award winning 2000 film, Gladiator, stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, and Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role from the first film. By Jonathan Pert “Record-breaking” LED wall installed at Red Bull Racing headquarters PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays, has announced the installation of a “record-breaking” Philips dvLED wall inside Oracle Red Bull Racing’s (Red Bull) headquarters. Measuring 46.25m x 2.75m, the horseshoe-shaped Philips Public dvLED wall is quoted by PPDS as being “the largest dvLED wall installed in an indoor events space in Europe.” The wall is designed as the centrepiece of the main auditorium at the MK-7 events space, located within the Red Bull Racing Technology Campus. The digital out-of-home (DOOH) display is the backdrop to an expansive display of Red Bull’s Formula 1 cars lined up at the space. The MK-7 venue, based in its Milton Keynes headquarters, operates as an events space and museum, with a range of racing memorabilia, artefacts, and championship-winning cars. The collection of F1 cars on display spans from the racing team’s F1 debut in 2005, and includes seven championship-winning vehicles. The largest profits for LG came from the Home Appliance and Home Entertainment arms of the company 21 Issue 256 - December 2024 / January 2025 www.signlink.co.uk
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