July 18, 2007
Inside sources say that a 52” full-HD LCD HDTV from Vizio is expected to be available in North America next month August for $2,200.
LG.Philips LCD will provide the panels for the new Vizio 52” full-HD LCD HDTV, which will first be available in Costco, sources have said.
Taiwan-based Amtran Technology, the major manufacturer of Vizio-brand LCD TVs, said the company plans to launch a 40” full HD LCD TV by the end of the year using panels adopting from S-LCD, a joint venture between Sony and Samsung Electronics, added the sources.
Vizio began shipping full HD 42” and 47” LCD TVs in the market during the first half of 2007, so with the introduction of 40” TVs, Vizio aims to increase its market share in the 40/42” LCD TV combined segments.
Amtram shipped 990,000 flat panel TVs in the first half of this year and the company expects shipments will continue growing to 1.5 million units in the second half, said the company. Revenues from the company will peak in the fourth quarter with overall sales to hit $60 billion for the full year of 2007, Amtran estimates. Amtran is the second largest shareholder of US-based Vizio, holding about 24% of the company.
May 31, 2007
Yesterday, VIZIO announced the arrival four new LCD HDTV models at Wal-Mart stores.
Wal-Mart has undertaken a nationwide effort to expand its service, values, and selection in electronics, and the addition of VIZIO brand HDTVs seems to be a step in the right direction.
The four new VIZIO LCD flat panel HDTVs available in all of Wal-Mart’s U.S. store locations include the VW26LHDTV, VW32LHDTV, VW37LHDTV and the VW42LHDTV, whcih range in size from 26-42″. The best part: prices start at $448.
“Wal-Mart is an ideal retail partner for VIZIO to further expand its national distribution,” says Jeff Schindler, vice president marketing for VIZIO, Inc. “Moreover, this partnership is one of shared values, where the success of both companies is based on reputations for providing customers quality products at remarkable prices.”
“Wal-Mart’s decision to add VIZIO to its electronics department was not only in response to VIZIO’s exceptional value-added products but to the company’s phenomenal growth performance coupled with customer response to VIZIO in our Sam’s Club division,” says Kevin O’Connor, vice president and general merchandise manager for Wal-Mart’s consumer electronics. “Our customers are more technology driven than ever before and are now searching for the right brands at the right price.”
Great prices and competitive service policies, such as free on-site repairs for a full year after purchase, have served as catalyst in VIZIO’s recent growth.
DisplaySearch President Ross Young explains that VIZIO was one of the few brands to earn sequential growth in North America in the first quarter of 2007 ”due to its strength in the rapidly growing warehouse club channel along with expansion into new channels through Wal-Mart and Sears.” Consequently, Younx says, VIZIO’s North American flat panel TV unit share rose from the #9 position in the fourth quarter of 2006 to #4 in the first quarter of 2007. “In addition, in the important 32″+ flat panel category, VIZIO rose from #5 to #3 and led the 37″, 42″, 47″ and 60″+ flat panel market segments.”
December 18, 2006
LCD HDTV manufacturers have predicted that prices for 42” LCD HDTVs are likely to drop to $999 by the end of 2007 in North America; prices in the 37” and 32” LCD HDTV segments are also expected to fall to new lows, reaching $799 and $399 by the end of next year.
Vizio, the low-cost flat-panel HDTV champion, says it will launch a 47” 1080p LCD for less than $2,000! According to Wang, the 47” flat-panel set will likely be introduced shortly before the Super Bowl in early February and could be launched by year’s end.
Most 1080p sets are now priced at nearly $3,000, but Vizio CEO William Wang says that’s too much: “Before, 1080p wasn’t affordable. We don’t believe anyone can call $3,000 affordable.”
There is no 1080p programming available besides high-def DVDs, but some industry observers have said the new format can offer a better high-def picture. Consequently, 1080p set makers have priced the new models accordingly.
Vizio has burst onto the HDTV scene with a series of low-cost LCD and plasma displays. On Black Friday, the holiday shopping opening day, some retailers sold a Vizio 42” plasma HDTV for just $999.
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