VIZIO Press Coverage-Canadian Announcement

Toronto, ON – Brian Florian – Senior Editor – Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity (www.hometheaterhifi.com)

VIZIO announced today Canada-wide availability of their new E and M series LCD TVs, as well as their sound-bar line up, through BestBuy and FutureShop. This is big news for Canadians.

I first heard of VIZIO some 10 years ago when searching for a new display for our two-seater pill box of a home theater. As is my nature I obsessed and stressed over what to get, pouring over marketing material, scrutinizing past and present reviews, and becoming a sales person’s nightmare by insisting I be given access to a set’s service menu before making a purchase. When I asked friend and fellow Secrets writer Stacey Spears for an opinion, his answer came, short and poignant, as if it were a matter of common sense: “You can always get the VIZIO.”

“The VIZIO” turned out to be an LCD TV from what was considered at the time an “off brand” to use the vernacular. Almost laughably affordable with an allegedly decent picture it boasted Full HD resolution at a time when misguided marketing and press alike were still trying to convince people that 720 was “good enough” and 1080 had no future. There was only one problem: VIZIO was not sold in Canada…at all. Oh sure there were tales of people in geographic proximity to the boarder who would venture across to make such a purchase but that wasn’t an option for me. I flirted with the idea of having someone in the US buy one, unscrupulously declare it as “used…value $150” and forward it up to me but I’m nervous purchasing such things on a good day so I let it go. I ended up buying into the likes of Sharp and Sony because, hey, they can be found in stores within 15 minutes of my home, with a generous return policy to boot. VIZIO, to be candid, fell off my radar.

Fast forward to 2014. I had heard a few years ago that they were the number one brand in LCD TV sales for the US. Clearly that “off brand” of 10 years ago had matured. I also heard they had wisely dumped 3D, a move which some people say was the final death blow for the format in the consumer market. What really caught my attention though was the more recent declaration that they were eschewing that whole edge lit nonsense and were going full array LED on (almost) all their models. Suddenly VIZIO was back on my radar. Not just full array, but full array with local dimming…across the board, at all price points, with Smart TV functionality either standard or available in every single one. As if that wasn’t enough, they are promising to release later this year a lineup of 4K TVs at prices guaranteed to embarrass all the other CE giants. This goes beyond simply delivering a half decent TV at cut rate prices: VIZIO is positioning themselves as an advocate of better TV technology “for everyone”.

And yet if a month ago you googled “VIZIO Canada”, over half the hits would have been people posting on forums asking “where can I buy in Canada?!?”. Answer: with the exception of a couple one-offs at WalMart and Costco, nowhere.

Once again the gears started turning in my head in a fruitless effort to come up with some sort of caper to get one into Canada.

Then in mid-August an old PR contact of mine, Jim Noyd, reached out to me in a seemingly innocuous email which simply said “We should talk”. That lead to a phone call which would bring news of an almost prophetic nature: VIZIO, in partnership with BestBuy and FutureShop, would finally be putting down roots in Canada.

Welcome VIZIO to the great white north.

One simply has to respect VIZIO as a company: started just 12 years ago, it has risen to be the #1 seller of flat panel TVs in the US according to the NPD Group. Not too shabby considering William Wang, of Mag Innovision fame during the CRT monitor hay day, got it off the ground with just $600k and the notion that he could manufacture a good TV for less. Since that time the accolades have just kept pouring in and the company has broadened its portfolio to include an accessories line, Blu-ray players, Android tablets, AiO PCs and Laptops, and most recently a line-up of audio soundbars to complement their TVs.

Today the company announces its expansion into the Canadian market. Beginning September 12, VIZIO products will be available at Best Buy and Future Shop retail locations throughout Canada. VIZIO will offer Canadian consumers its latest E- and M-Series Full-Array LED Smart TVs and a range of audio solutions, including VIZIO’s 2.1 and 5.1 Sound Bar Systems and a 2.1 Sound Stand.

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Hopefully pricing won’t be, as is often the case, artificially high compared to the US since a big part of the VIZIO appeal is the attainable price points VIZIO is known for.

“VIZIO believes everyone deserves access to best-in-class technologies at a great value, and our commitment to Canadian consumers is rooted in this mantra,” said Matt McRae, VIZIO Chief Technology Officer. “Offering our products through Canada’s largest consumer electronics retailers grants more households access to attainable, high-quality VIZIO technologies in both the HDTV and audio categories.”

At the time of launch, VIZIO products will be available at Best Buy and Future Shop both in-store and online.

“Canadians continue to choose Best Buy and Future Shop as their top two consumer electronics and lifestyle goods retailers. Our teams are always working hard to bring new and exceptional brands to keep pace with the wants and needs of our customers, which is why we’re very excited to offer VIZIO’s award-winning product line,” said Mat Povse, Vice President of Merchandising, Best Buy Canada and Future Shop. “Over the past decade, VIZIO has solidified itself as a trusted brand in the U.S. We are very proud to now offer VIZIO’s HDTVs and audio solutions in Canada, adding more amazing products for our customers as we continue to expand our lead in the market.”

All VIZIO Smart TVs launching into Canada feature the VIZIO Internet Apps Plus® platform, bringing apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Yahoo! News, Flickr, Crackle and more which have all been tested for Canadian service branches and/or geography limitations.

In addition to its television and audio products, we are told that VIZIO’s North America-based customer support has also expanded service to the Canadian market, offering the same level of support offered to American consumers.

“VIZIO will provide the same great service in Canada as in the United States. Canadian consumers can expect top-level attention from VIZIO’s North American-based technical support and customer service team,” stated Lily Knowles VP Product Marketing. “They will have the flexibility to reach VIZIO customer support via phone, email and online chat from VIZIO.ca. To ensure its consumers receive quick, personalized, convenient support, VIZIO has worked hard with service companies and retailers, separating itself by offering North American support and service to improve the end-user experience. This allows Canadian customers to purchase in Canada with peace of mind knowing that VIZIO will stand behind their products.”

At launch, the following VIZIO Smart TVs and audio products will be available at Best Buy and Future Shop retail locations, and online at bestbuy.ca, futureshop.ca and VIZIO.com:

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E-Series HDTVs

24” Class Razor LED Smart TV (E241i-B1)
28” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (E280i-B1)
50” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (E500i-B1)
60” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (E600i-B3)
70” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (E700i-B3)

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M-Series HDTVs

42” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (M422i-B1)
50” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (M502i-B1)
60” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (M602i-B3)
70” Class Full-Array LED Smart TV (M702i-B3)

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Audio Products

42” 2.1 Home Theater Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer (S4221w-C4)
42” 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer and Satellite Speakers (S4251w-B4)
54” 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar w/ Wireless Subwoofer and Satellite Speakers (S5451w-C2)
21” 2.1 Sound Stand (S2121w-D0)