Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are planning to showcase new 55-inch OLED televisions at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.

According to industry sources, the two TV makers are looking into commercializing the large OLED TVs later this year after unveiling them at the electronics trade show which launches on Jan. 10.

OLED ― Organic Light Emitting Diodes ― televisions are known to be thinner, lighter, brighter and more efficient, presenting faster refresh rates and better contrast than liquid-crystal display and plasma TVs.

The 55-inch display will be the biggest among OLED TV displays considering that Samsung Mobile Display’s 40-inch display is the largest in the market so far.

LG already introduced a 15-inch OLED TV into the market in late 2009 and its TV chief Kwon Hee-won already noted that the firm would begin production of OLED TVs sometime next year on the sidelines of a trade show in Berlin. On the other hand, Samsung is expected to begin production of OLED displays in 2012 or 2013.

“OLED TVs will be among the displayed items at the CES for Samsung,” said an industry source.

According to a market research firm DisplaySearch, global OLED TV production for Samsung and LG will be about 50,000 units next year and the estimated total OLED TV revenue for 2012 is set at $278 million.

Another report by investment bank Goldman Sachs said the growth rate for OLED TV averages up to 104 percent per year, replacing one out of every four TVs in 2020.

In the meantime, Samsung plans to announce its TV roadmap at the electronics show next month.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)