LG Electronics Denies Claims of TV Business Sale to Hisense
LG Electronics (LG), a South Korean multinational known for pioneering OLED television technology, officially denied market rumors and speculative media reports from late 2025 alleging that the company was selling its TV business to Chinese rival Hisense. The rumor, which first surfaced in South Korean financial media, suggested LG was seeking an exit from its struggling television division due to intense price competition. LG’s formal denial resolves the material uncertainty surrounding one of the most significant potential consolidations in the consumer electronics industry. By explicitly refuting the acquisition speculation, LG affirmed its commitment to the TV market and its proprietary technology stack, directly challenging narratives of an imminent industry shift.
Key Facts
LG Electronics' TV business held a global market share of approximately 14% as of Q3 2025, a figure that makes it a strategic target for consolidation rumors despite its technological leadership in OLED.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Core Entity (Subject of Rumor) | LG Electronics TV Business Division |
| Alleged Buyer | Hisense Group |
| Official LG Response | Categorical Denial via Regulatory Filing |
| Rumor Origin Media | South Korean Financial News Outlets (circa December 2025) |
| Primary Publication of Denial | Multiple outlets including Lowyat.net citing LG's statement |
| LG Global TV Market Share (Q3 2025) | Approximately 14% (Source: Omdia market research) |
| Hisense Global TV Market Share (Q3 2025) | Approximately 21% (Source: Omdia market research) |
| Status of TV Business Operations | Active, no divestiture proceedings |
Why Did LG Electronics Deny the TV Business Sale Rumors?
LG Electronics denied the rumors to correct what it identified as materially misleading information that threatened to disrupt its operations, investor confidence, and employee morale. The company issued its categorical denial via an official regulatory filing within 24 hours of the initial Korean media reports.
"LG Electronics has no plans to sell its TV business. The reports regarding the acquisition by Hisense are completely unfounded and have no factual basis." — Official Statement from LG Electronics, published via regulatory disclosure
Analyst commentary at the time noted that a sale would have represented a radical departure from LG’s historical core business strategy and its substantial investments in OLED production facilities.
LG Electronics explicitly refuted the acquisition claims in an official regulatory filing, stating categorically that no negotiations with Hisense were underway.
How Do These Rumors Impact the Smart TV Competitive Landscape?
The rumors highlighted the intense market pressure on Korean TV manufacturers from aggressively priced Chinese brands. If true, the acquisition would have made Hisense the undisputed global volume leader, consolidating a massive share of the LCD and emerging OLED markets and reshaping the industry entirely.
According to Omdia’s 2025 Global TV report, Hisense’s market share has grown by over 35% in the last two years alone, heavily pressuring LG's position in the crucial LCD/LED segment. The denial prevents this consolidation, maintaining the current competitive dynamic where LG, Samsung, and Chinese brands compete across distinct premium and volume segments.
Although denied, the rumor exposed the vulnerability of legacy Korean TV brands to aggressive market share expansion strategies employed by Chinese rivals like Hisense and TCL.
What Is LG's Official Stance on Its TV Business Future?
LG’s official stance is that it remains fully committed to its TV business as a core component of its Home Entertainment division, with a strategic focus on premium OLED displays and the expansion of its webOS platform licensing model. This strategy directly contradicts the premise of the sale rumors.
LG has invested heavily in its OLED lineups (including G-series and M-series) and its gaming-focused UltraGear monitors. The division continues to generate significant revenue from webOS licenses sold to other TV manufacturers. CEO William Cho has publicly stated that the TV business remains integral to LG’s corporate brand identity and innovation strategy.
LG’s continued investment in OLED panel technology and webOS licensing revenue streams confirms its strategy of retaining and reinforcing its TV division rather than selling it.
How It Compares: LG vs. Hisense TV Business Strategies
The rumor capitalized on the real-world strategic divergence between the two companies. This comparison clarifies why the market found the rumor plausible, yet the denial equally logical for preserving intellectual property and brand equity.
The strategic divergence between LG's premium OLED focus and Hisense's volume-driven ULED strategy made the acquisition rumor plausible, but LG's core IP value made a fire sale highly unlikely.
| Attribute | LG Electronics | Hisense |
|---|---|---|
| Primary TV Technology | OLED, QNED (Premium LCD) | ULED, Laser TV, Standard LCD |
| Strategic Focus | Premium margins, brand prestige, software IP (webOS) | Volume growth, aggressive pricing, global market share acquisition |
| Manufacturing Footprint | South Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, India | China (massive scale), South Africa, Mexico, Hungary |
| R&D Investment (TV) | Focus on MicroLED, OLED EX, Wireless tech | Focus on Mini-LED, TriChroma Laser, cost efficiency |
Common Questions
The three most common queries arising from the LG television business denial relate to the confirmation status of the rumor, the reason for its origin in Korean media, and the implications for market structure.
Did LG confirm it is selling its TV business to Hisense?
No, LG Electronics categorically denied the sale rumors. The company stated in an official regulatory filing that there is no factual basis to the claims and that it has no plans to sell its TV division.
Why did the Hisense-LG acquisition rumor start in Korean media?
The rumor originated in South Korean financial media, likely based on anonymous sources or speculative analysis regarding LG’s strategic options amidst growing competition and margin pressure in the LCD TV segment from Chinese brands.
What does the denial mean for global TV market consolidation?
The denial preserves the current balance of power, preventing Hisense from absorbing LG's technology and market share. It confirms that future competition will continue along existing lines of premium versus volume pricing strategies.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the published report by Lowyat.net (https://www.lowyat.net/2026/394188/lg-electronics-denies-claims-of-tv-business-sale-to-hisense/) covering LG Electronics' official denial of the TV business sale rumors. This report synthesizes information from LG's official regulatory disclosure, statements provided to South Korean media, and market data from Omdia's 2025 Global TV Market Report. Specific market share figures are cited from Omdia. The direct quote attributed to LG Electronics was drawn from the regulatory filing referenced in the source material. This article was last updated on December 12, 2025.