LAS VEGAS –
Although The Netherlands-based Philips
Consumer Lifestyles recently announced plans to
turn its television business over to China-based TPV,
it will be business as usual for the Philips TV brand in
the United States under Funai’s P&F USA operation.
“We have a great partnership with Philips and both
companies are very happy with our existing agreement,
which under the present terms runs though Dec.
31, 2013,” said Todd Richardson, P&F USA sales and
marketing general manager and senior VP. “We now
also cover several Latin American countries as well
as the hospitality business for the U.S., Canada and
Mexico.”
In 2011, P&F saw double digit sales growth as
the company’s distribution spread to new channels,
which it will feed with an advanced 2012 TV product
portfolio.
Much of the growth has been driven in large-screen
products that incorporate the company’s NetTV IPTV
platform with Media Connect providing one of the few
integrated solutions allowing wirelessly streaming PC
content to the TV.
This year’s NetTV technology offers simplified access
to content services and the ability to customize
apps.
NetTV functions are found in more screen sizes enabling
IP access on TVs in secondary rooms as well as
the main entertainment area.
Philips is also providing iOS and Android apps that
will enable users to control the TV, Blu-ray players and home-theater systems.
This year, select models will include
AirPlay and an Android wireless interface,
simplified user interaction, and
refined styling designs.
The highlight of the line, which this
year includes 24 models across 11
model series and seven screen sizes,
is the PFL8907 “luxury 3D flat TV” series
of LED edge-lit FullHD LCD TVs.
The line features the 55-inch ($1,500
suggested retail and 60-inch (pricing
to be announced) screen sizes, both of
which are due to ship in the third quarter
of 2012.
Features in both include a new metal
foil, ultra-thin bezel design measuring
0.0125mm thick, MediaConnect, Wireless
NetTV with access to Smart Cloud
services and apps, a Perfect Pixel HD
Engine, 2D-to-3D conversion and a
game mode.
The PFL7907 3D Performance series
features a 120Hz FullHD 1080p
LCD panel with LED edge-lighting,
Pixel Plus HD Engine, MediaConnect, Wireless NetTV with access to Smart
Cloud services, a metal foil design, 2Dto-
3D conversion and a game mode.
Screen sizes include 65 inches
(pricing to be announced), 55 inches
($1,500 suggested retail) and 46 inches
($1,100). All will start to ship in the
third quarter.
The PFL5907 Performance series
has the same feature package but
omits 3D capability and the metal foil
design. It includes the 65-inch (pricing
to be announced), 55-inch ($1,400),
46-inch ($1,000) and 42-inch ($750)
screen sizes. All will start to ship in the
third quarter.
The PFL4907 Energy Efficient LED
series includes LED-edge-lit FullHD
LCD TVs with a step-down Pixel Precise
HD Engine video-processing system,
and Touch Sensor controls. MediaConnect
and Wireless NetTV with
access to Smart Cloud services will
be offered in 26-inch and larger screen
sizes.
The series will feature the 40-inch
(shipping in May at a $700 suggested
retail), 32-inch (shipping in May
at $430), 26-inch (shipping in April
at $350) and 22-inch (shipping this
month at $270) screen sizes.
The PFL4707 Energy Efficient LED
series includes a 40-inch FullHD
1080p model with Digtial Crystal Clear
processing, touch controls and a new
design. It ships in April at a $630 suggested
retail.
Offering similar features, the
PFL4507 “Energy Efficient LED” edgelit
LCD TV series includes the 32-
(March, $380), 26- (January, $300)
and 22-inch (February, $220) screen
sizes.
Other model series include the
PFL4707 40-inch FullHD 1080p LEDedge-
lit LCD TV (February, $630);
and the PFL 3907 Series with Full-
HD 120Hz panels, MediaConnect
with wireless NetTV in the 55- (April,
$1,200), 46- (April, $800), and 40-inch
(April, $600) screen sizes.
Value LCD models will also be
found in the PFL3807, PFL3707 and
PFL3506 series, most of which ship in
March and April.
