华为电视延后发布：硬件已备好，等待软件完善 – Jiemian
What happened: Huawei has decided to postpone the launch of its smart TV as “it still needs to be polished,” (our translation) according to a supply chain executive in Huawei’s television business cited by Chinese media outlet Jiemian. The executive added that the software system was “not yet ready,” referring to a product that the company aims to expand in collaboration with other TV manufacturers. Huawei consumer business CEO Yu Chengdong said in a press event last week that the company’s intelligent TV product may not be launched in the first half of this year.
Why it’s important: Rumors of Huawei’s foray into the TV market has circulated on Chinese media since last year. In an earlier report by Jiemian, the company planned to go begin selling in April with a sales goal of 10 million units each year for 20% share of the Chinese TV market. With its expertise in the application of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT), Huawei is expected to drive change in China’s low-profit TV segment. Guangdong-based TV giant TCL reported a 17.79% gross profit rate for the third quarter in 2018, a bit higher than Changhong’s 12.23%, according to National Business Daily (in Chinese).