According to new research by Strategy Analytics, Samsung continues to hold the largest market share of global Smart TV shipments, occupying 26 percent of the market, as vendors attempt to combat falling average selling prices (ASPs) of Flat Panel TVs (FPTVs) by adding premium features that better match evolving viewing habits.

The Strategy Analytics Consumer Home Devices (CHD) service report, "Global Smart TV Vendor Market Share Q1 2013," indicates that global Smart TV shipments reached 12.7 million units in Q1 2013, as Smart TV penetration of overall FPTV sales climbed a full 8 percentage points from the same period in 2012. Sony and Sharp led the Smart TV market two years ago, but the end of Japan’s Eco-Points program and strong sales at Samsung has kept it ahead of its competitors ever since.

LG follows Samsung with 16 percent of the Smart TV market in Q1 2013, and Sony rounds out the top three at 11 percent. Japanese vendors are still feeling a hang-over effect from the Eco-Points program, while Chinese vendors TCL, Skyworth, and Hisense rapidly grow their market share on the strength of the Chinese domestic market. Although FPTV models sold abroad are often bare-bones, their Chinese lineups resemble that of top global vendors in terms of high-tech amenities like Smart TV, Android OS, 3D, and Wi-Fi.

Image: Samsung smart TV website