This is the first time that sales of flat-panel TVs are experiencing a decline, and manufacturers are now turning to 3D TVs.

Last year, the financial crisis did not apparently affect sales of flat-panel TVs which increased by 110 percent, and the industry predicted at the beginning of this year that sales would grow 50 to 80 percent.

But after the sales increased by 80 percent in the first quarter, the growth declined to 31 percent in the second quarter and minus 2 percent in the third quarter.

The decline of the flat-panel market leads the whole industry in an inventory crisis and, in the last half of the year, almost all the TV companies lowered their sales targets.

TV manufacturers are now seeking competitive alternatives for the market and 3D TVs are becoming their new alternative.

Zhang Bing, marketing director of Displaysearch, said that following the launch of LCD TVs, the TV industry has been seeking a new product. The internet and LED TVs were apparently unable to replace it completely, and 3D TVs offered the opportunity.

Although 3D TVs still have some drawbacks, the manufacturers have begun to lower their prices in order to sustain a growth in the sales. In addition, some manufacturers such as Skyworth are joining forces with panel and chip manufacturers to develop new 3D TVs.

Yang Dongwen, vice president of Skyworth, said that if the country's flat-panel TVs market aims to reverse the trend in sales, 3D TVs will be the most powerful weapon.

Also in the third quarter, sales of flat-panel TVs in Japan increased 62 percent, and 3 percent in North America, and declined 1 percent in West Europe.