Korean television manufacturers are gradually pulling further and further ahead of their Japanese competitors, according to the latest information from iSuppli. Samsung sold 5.7 million units in the second quarter of the year, giving it an 18.5% share of world sales. It is followed by its fellow Korean company LG Electronics which, with sales of 3.5 million units over the same period and an 11.5% market share, continues to consolidate its position as main challenger. Japanese company Sharp remains in third place, with largely unchanged sales of 2.9 units. Its compatriot Sony has seen a sharp fall in television sales (2.8 million compared with 3 million one year ago). In fifth place, European company Philips has seen a slight improvement, with close to 2 million units sold in the second quarter of 2009. (I.L./transl.rt)