Vizio Sees Growth in Flat-Panel Shipments

Vizio Inc., a supplier of low-cost flat-panel display TVs in the U.S., expects shipments of its LCD televisions to rise more than 70 percent to more than six million units this year and to remain profitable even as set prices fall at least 30 percent, the company’s chief executive said.

Such steep declines in LCD television selling prices suggest more challenges ahead for major television manufacturers. Sony Corp. (SNE), Panasonic Corp. (PC) and other major Japanese television manufacturers have struggled to reverse losses at their television businesses, unable to slash costs faster than falling prices, even though demand for new sets remains strong.

Vizio, a closely held company based in Irvine, Calif., is the U.S. market leader for LCD televisions with a 21.7 percent share in the second quarter, edging out Samsung Electronics for the top spot, according to research firm iSuppli.

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