IRVINE, Calif., April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, Inc. announced today the introduction of its VIZIO SmartCast M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display collection.  Part of the next generation VIZIO SmartCast entertainment ecosystem, the all-new M-Series fully integrates the Google Cast protocol with support for Ultra HD and HDR playback, easily controlled by the included 6" Android^™ Tablet Remote preinstalled with the VIZIO SmartCast app. The 2016 M-Series raises the bar on image quality with advanced picture technologies such as Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision support. The collection also boasts Full-Array LED backlighting with up to 64 Active LED Zones^® that render images with incredible detail, depth and contrast. The collection will begin rolling out soon and starts at an MSRP of $849.99 for the 50" class size and is available in sizes as large as 80" class size. 

Like all products in the VIZIO SmartCast line-up, the new M-Series is controlled by the VIZIO SmartCast app. Instead of jumping between apps, VIZIO SmartCast changes the way content is discovered and controlled, allowing users to first search and browse content by genre across multiple apps at once, then select the app or source to play on the big screen. Rather than forcing users to struggle with seeing and adjusting settings or navigate apps from across the room, the app simplifies navigation, bringing it to the mobile screen.  The VIZIO SmartCast app comes pre-loaded on the included 6" Android Tablet Remote or is available for download to iOS and Android smartphones or tablets.  This added benefit allows users to control any VIZIO SmartCast device from nearly any mobile device, from anywhere in the home. 

"The M-Series truly represents a breakthrough in how consumers access and control content.  The VIZIO Tablet Remote with pre-loaded VIZIO SmartCast app is a game-changer, delivering an advanced user experience that brings home entertainment into the mobile era," said Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "The M-Series also brings forth major advancements in picture quality by rendering images with superior Ultra HD quality and delivering High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision support. This viewing experience reveals varying levels of shadows and accentuates highlights, resulting in more lifelike on-screen imagery."  

The VIZIO SmartCast M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display offers a more immersive viewing experience than other conventional Ultra HD sets without High Dynamic Range. Ultra HD featuring High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision support transforms the entertainment experience with dramatic imaging, incredible brightness and contrast that brings content to life. New release titles such as In the Heart of the Sea and Point Break and other upcoming summer blockbusters will continue to roll out through Walmart's streaming video service VUDU, which currently has more than 30 Warner Bros. titles available in Dolby Vision. The Netflix original series Marco Polo is available to watch now in High Dynamic Range via the Netflix app, with more titles coming soon, including Marvel's Daredevil.

"We're thrilled that VIZIO has incorporated Dolby Vision technology into their new M-Series release.  Already integrated in VIZIO's P-Series and Reference-Series, the inclusion of Dolby Vision in the M-Series means that even more consumers can enjoy a premium visual experience," said Giles Baker, SVP, Broadcast Business Group, Dolby Laboratories.  "It's now even easier to enjoy Hollywood content in vibrant color and stunning contrast with Dolby Vision."

The M-Series also features powerful Full-Array LED backlighting with up to 64 Active LED Zones, twice as many as the award-winning 2015 M-Series collection. These zones dynamically adjust to on-screen content for deeper, richer black levels and more accurate contrast¹ than ever-before seen on an M-Series display. Clear Action^™ 720 technology and ultra-fast 240Hz Effective Refresh Rate achieved with backlight scanning ensures action-packed scenes in movie, sports and video games are presented with enhanced motion clarity, stability and smoothness with reduced motion blur.

As with all VIZIO SmartCast™ 4K Ultra HD displays, the M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display is tuner-free. For those that use an external antenna to watch local broadcasts, a separate external TV tuner is required. The M-Series comes with an HDMI cable for the best quality connection to high-definition devices.

With the VIZIO SmartCast M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display, consumers can take control of their entertainment using the included 6" HD Android Tablet Remote with a convenient wireless charging dock. The tablet remote allows consumers to browse and play content with simple tap, swipe and voice-based controls. With integrated stereo speakers and a powerful quad-core processor, the Android tablet also serves as a premium, standalone tablet that users can download all of their favorite apps from the Google Play store² to play games, chat, email and more.

With Google Cast built into the M-Series, consumers can access thousands of mobile apps they already know and love³. By simply tapping the Cast button, users can easily watch content go from their mobile screen to any VIZIO SmartCast device on their home WiFi network. And with WiFi streaming, users can still multi-task on the included tablet remote or their own mobile device without interrupting what is playing on the display. 

VIZIO SmartCast makes its debut on the M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display with additional collections and products to follow. M-Series rolling out to retailers soon with more information and retailers available at VIZIO.com.

VIZIO SmartCast^™ 50" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M50-D1)   MSRP $849.99
VIZIO SmartCast^™ 55" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M55-D0)   MSRP $999.99
VIZIO SmartCast^™ 60" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M60-D1)   MSRP $1,249.99
VIZIO SmartCast^™ 65" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M65-D0)   MSRP $1,499.99
VIZIO SmartCast^™ 70" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M70-D3)   MSRP $1,999.99
VIZIO SmartCast^™ 80" M-Series^™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display^™ (M80-D3)   MSRP $3,999.99

¹ Compared to Edge-Lit sets.
² Google account required to download apps from the Google Play store.
³ The third party applications and content described herein may only be available in certain countries and languages, may require additional fees or subscription charges, and may be subject to future updates, modifications, interruption and/or discontinuation of service without notice, and VIZIO has no control over such content.  Google account required to download apps from the Google Play store.

About VIZIO
VIZIO's mission is to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience through our community of connected consumers, advertisers and media content providers. Through our connected entertainment platform, VIZIO is transforming the way consumers discover and experience media content. Since our founding in California in 2002, VIZIO has built an industry-leading brand and sold over 65 million products, including televisions, sound bars and other devices. VIZIO has achieved significant U.S. market share and held the #1 unit share position in the U.S. sound bar industry¹ and is currently #1 unit share for all TVs² and #1 unit share in Smart TVs³ in U.S. VIZIO product leadership is highlighted by a number of industry reviews and awards including a 2015 CNET Editors' Rating of 4 stars for a review of our E-Series Smart TVs⁴, 2015 Editors' Choice award from Reviewed.com for our M-Series 4K Ultra HD Smart TVs⁵ and Sound & Vision's Top Picks of 2014 for 42" and 54" Home Theater Sound Bar Systems. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit www.VIZIO.com.

© 2016 VIZIO, Inc. VIZIO, the V Logo, VIZIO SmartCast, Home Theater Display, Active LED Zones and other terms and phrases are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks and logos are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
¹The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, sound bar units sold in the U.S., January 2013—December 2015.
² The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service, based on LCD and Plasma television units sold in the U.S. February 2016
³ The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, based on total smart television units sold in the U.S. February 2016. The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service defines a smart television as an LCD TV with apps included
⁴Visit cnet.com for the full 2015 VIZIO E-Series Review, published 6/6/15
⁵Visit reviewed.com for the full 2015 VIZIO M-Series Review, published 6/29/15

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SOURCE VIZIO, Inc.

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