Recent "explosive growth" in consumer demand for LCD televisions is fuelling a rapid expansion in the market for semiconductors used in the sets, market watchers report.

Global revenues from such semiconductors are set to nearly quadruple between 2006 and 2011, according to iSuppli.

The research firm predicts the worldwide market for semiconductors used in LCD TVs to rise to $7.4bn in 2011, up from about $2bn in 2006.

LCD TV chips will account for 84.2 per cent of total digital TV chip revenues by 2011, up from 54.3 per cent in 2006.

Chip shipments for LCD TVs will rise to 178 million units in 2011, up from 43 million in 2006. LCD TV chips will account for 77.4 per cent of the digital TV semiconductor shipments in 2011, up from 55.5 per cent in 2006.

These numbers account for all of the chips on digital TV and LCD TV audio/video boards, which include display processors, input/output chips, audio, memory and other devices, iSuppli stated.

In contrast, the overall global digital TV chip market, which comprises LCD TVs, plasma sets, CRTs and rear-projection televisions, is expected to rise at a slower rate, increasing to 230 million units by 2011, up from 77.4 million units in 2006.

"The LCD TV segment has become the driving force behind the global digital TV semiconductor business, propelling revenue growth and generating the most attractive opportunities for television chip suppliers," iSuppli stated.