Thin is in - at least as far as flat-panel high-definition (HD) displays go at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

As well as showing ever-larger HD televisions - Panasonic was exhibiting a 380cm (150in) Plasma display - manufacturers at CES led by Sony Electronics, JVC, Pioneer Electronics and Philips are launching thin and, in the case of Sony, ultra-thin TVs measuring just millimetres in thickness.

Sony, which has pioneered the commercial development of HDTVs based on a new, ultra-sharp and low-power technology called Oled (organic light emitting diodes) recently began selling 28cm (11in) Oled displays measuring just three millimetres (0.12in) in thickness in the US for $2,500 (€1,705).

It used CES to demonstrate a prototype 68cm (27in) display based on the technology.

Sir Howard Stringer, Sony chief executive, said Sony was "redefining TV" with the launch of Oled TVs, which, he said, Sony had spent 10 years developing. He said he hoped that Oled TVs would be "the next blockbuster product category" for the Japanese electronics group.

Sony executives concede that, at their current prices, Oled TVs will remain a niche product. But they believe Oled technology will eventually replace the LCD (liquid crystal display) and PDP (plasma display panel) sets that dominate the market as the technology of choice for flat-panel HDTVs.

Other television makers are also working to build thinner and lighter flat-panel displays. Both JVC and Korea's LG Electronics were showing super-thin HDTV sets measuring 3.8cm (1.5in) and 4.3cm (1.7in) thick respectively.

JVC, Panasonic, Hitachi and Sharp were also showing prototype TV sets that were about 2.8cm (1.1in) thick - about a quarter of the thickness of most LCD and PDP flat-panel displays.

The other key trend among HDTV makers is to connect them to the internet to enable consumers to download news, weather and other information directly to their TV sets without the need for a PC. Some models also offer the ability to access and download internet-based film and video content.

Sony launched a $499 (€340) add-on module dubbed the "Internet Video Link" for its latest Bravia LCD family of HDTVs and announced a series of new content partnerships, including an agreement with CBS to enable Bravia owners to watch internet-based CBS content, including primetime TV shows.