Consumers Make VIZIO the #1 LCD HDTV in North America

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, Inc., America's #1 LCD HDTV Company, announced today that it outperformed the industry as the number one shipper of LCD flat panel HDTVs in Q4 2010 for both North America and the U.S. With an LCD HDTV share of more than 28%* VIZIO has captured the important essence of consumer desires in flat panel HDTV performance features, design form and value.

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VIZIO saw significant sales increases with its 7-time award winning XVT Series lineup with VIZIO Internet Apps®, as well as in the Beyond TV category, headlined by Blu-ray players with wireless Internet apps and the nation's bestselling Soundbars. VIZIO was also the leading shipper of LED backlit HDTVs in North America in Q4** behind the strength of its TruLED and Razor LED products shipping over 50% more backlit LED LCD TVs than its nearest competitor.

"VIZIO continues to defy conventional wisdom in the consumer electronics space with strong growth and innovation. Our team's success has proven that consumers recognize great technology at a great price by unseating the industry's traditional leaders in the LCD market," stated Randy Waynick, Chief Sales Officer, of VIZIO.  "Customers have embraced our higher performance product lineup and efficient retail partners in TVs and have now carried over their brand loyalty to our Beyond TV products, making VIZIO's Soundbars best sellers as well. Stay tuned in 2011 as we extend our 'Entertainment Freedom for All' brand vision to Theater 3D HDTVs, tablets and smartphones."

Adding to the meteoric growth of the brand, VIZIO's Beyond TV Category, which includes Soundbars, Blu-ray players, Headphones, Wall mounts, Cables, Wireless Routers, and other accessories, saw tremendous increases in Q4. Market-leading Soundbars saw sales growth of 200% Q/Q while sales of VIZIO's popular Blu-ray players grew 163%***. Offering a wide range of Soundbar solutions with innovative wireless subwoofers in 5.1 and 2.1 channel configurations and sizes for small to large size televisions has allowed VIZIO to dominate this market -- capturing 54% of the growing market in Q4 based on CEA's MarketMetrics data.

"VIZIO has also become a leader in some key advanced TV categories, rising to #1 in LED LCD TV unit shipments in North America and was #2 in high frame rate LCD and 40"+ screen size," stated Paul Gagnon, Director of North American TV Research at DisplaySearch.

The forth quarter's results showed that consumers are looking for innovation as well as value for their HDTV purchases. Outpacing the industry, VIZIO LED HDTV shipments grew 993% Y/Y, Full HD LCD TVs grew 44% Y/Y, 46" and above TVs grew 92% Y/Y and 120Hz+ TVs grew 119% Y/Y***.

"U.S. consumers are demanding full-featured LCD TVs at the lowest possible prices," said Riddhi Patel, Director, Television Systems, for IHS/iSuppli. "Television brands that successfully offer a combination of low pricing and advanced features, such as LED backlighting, Internet connectivity are gaining market share. Because of VIZIO's ability to provide latest features at attractive prices, the brand has reached number 1 position in the US flat panel TV market in Q4 2010."

Further displaying VIZIO's growing popularity for the family's main living room TV is Quixel Research's Q4 list of the Top 5 Best Selling models in the US LCD TV market.  One of VIZIO's 40"+ LCD TV models was both the largest and the highest priced among those ranked in the top five best sellers for the quarter.

"VIZIO has become the brand to purchase for consumers' newest technology such as LED and Internet connected HDTV as well as their larger main living room TVs where they get the latest features at prices that allow them to step up to the next generation of entertainment," stated Tamaryn Pratt, Analyst at Quixel Research.  

*Source: iSuppli Research Q1 2011 Report of Q4 2010 US LCD Market Share

** Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly Advanced Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report

***Source: VIZIO, Inc.

About VIZIO

VIZIO, Inc., America’s #1 LCD HDTV Company (according to Q4 2010 iSuppli and DisplaySearch Reports), "Entertainment Freedom For All," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America’s HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the top ranks in the U.S. and were #1 for the total year in 2009 and 2010.  VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich consumer electronics to market at a value through practical innovation.  VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning consumer electronics.  VIZIO’s products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners.  VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Fast Company's 6th Most Innovative CE Company of 2009, and made the lists of Ad Age’s Hottest Brands, CNET's Editor’s Choice, CNET Best of CES 2011 - Television, IGN Best of CES - Television, Bluetooth.org Best of CES, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, PC World's Best Buy, Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice and OC Metro’s 10 Most Trustworthy Brands among many other prestigious honors.  For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.

The V, VIZIO, TruLED, Extreme VIZIO Technology XVT, VIZIO Internet Apps, 480Hz SPS, 240Hz SPS, Thin Line, Smooth Motion, Razor LED, Smart Dimming, Theater 3D, Cinemawide HDTV, Entertainment Freedom For All, names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.

SOURCE VIZIO, Inc.