As Samsung Electronics has been promoting curved-surface Ultra HD LCD TVs, Taiwan-based AU Optronics (AUO) will begin production of such panels by the end of 2014 and the company is expected to obtain orders from Samsung, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

Samsung Display is expected to be the main supplier of the technology to Samsung Electronics but AUO will also supply the technology at the end of the year when the company begins mass production.

AUO will mass produce 42-, 50- 55-, 65- and 75-inch units at the end of the year and will supply the technology to major vendors including Samsung, the sources said.

Taiwan maker Innolux will also reportedly supply UHD panels to Toshiba, Sony, Sharp and Panasonic as well. Both AUO and Innolux are also expected to supply China TV vendors with the technology.

The sources said they expect Ultra HD TV panel pricing to be 1.2 times that of Full HD units by the end of 2014 and that the technology will be TV vendors' focus in the high-end segment throughout the end of the year.