Orange, Calif. –
Westinghouse Digital unveiled Tuesday the spring assortment of its value-focused
LCD TVs that will be part of the company’s shift to 100 percent LED-backlit SKUs
by the end of the year.
New models this
year offer brighter, sharper picture performance through the use of an edge-lit
LED panel illumination system that consumes significantly less power than
traditional CCFL-based LCD TVs, Westinghouse Digital said.
Picture
performance is also enhanced through a combination of the LED system and
Broadcom video-processing technology, resulting in expanded color and contrast
performance with a significant reduction in picture artifacts, among other
benefits.
In addition the
line features a new sleek styling, in gloss black with a hint of red at the
outer edges of the frame.
The screen-edge-placed
LED technology enables Westinghouse to offer thinner (as thin as 1 inch at the
borders of the panel in some models) and lighter cabinet designs that require
less packaging and shipment space. The capability contributes to the brand’s ongoing
efforts to become more environmentally friendly, said Rey Roque, Westinghouse
Digital marketing VP.
“Westinghouse
Digital is committed to do our part to help the environment by producing a full
line of energy-saving, eco-friendly HDTVs at a great price for the consumer,”
Roque said. “Our new LED HDTVs provide innovative slim and energy-efficient
design at a price that the average consumer can afford.”
As for energy
consumption, all eight models meet or exceed Energy Star 4.0 ratings, which are
scheduled to go into effect in the second quarter of 2010. Six out of the eight
SKUs exceed Energy Star 5.0 ratings, which are slated to go into effect in
2012, Westinghouse Digital said.
The majority of these Westinghouse’s LED HDTVs
are two years ahead of the curve for energy conservation, in all U.S. states,
according to the company.
Roque said the
2010 LED sets are being positioned as aggressively priced step-up models to the
opening-price-point brands in accounts including Target, Costco and others.
The new LED lineup
consists of eight models ranging in screen sizes from 24 to 55 inches.
Individual SKUs
start with the 24-inch LD-245 (shipping in the third quarter at a $299 suggested
retail), which targets kitchen, bedroom or dorm room placements and is said to
be thin enough to fit on virtually any shelf or tabletop. It offers full 1080p resolution and uses 15
percent less energy than a 40-watt light bulb, Westinghouse Digital said.
In the 26-inch
screen size, Westinghouse Digital offers the LD-265 (shipping in June at a $329
suggested retail) and LD-268 (shipping in July at $379), with 720p and 1080p HD
resolution, respectively.
Two 32-inch models
are the LD-325 (available in June at $449), with 720p resolution, and the
LD-328 (shipping in the fourth quarter at a price to be announced later), with full
1080p resolution, each said to consume less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.
In the 42-inch
screen size, the LD-425 (shipping in August at $799) measures less than 1.5
inches thick and consumes 80 watts of power at full output – 30 percent lower
than current Energy Star requirements.
The 46-inch
LD-46F970Z and the 55-inch LD-55F970Z each offer full 1080p resolution,
120Hz/6ms refresh rates for smooth motion reproduction, and judder and flicker removal.
Both sets also include selectable color
temperatures, 3D noise reduction and an inverse 3:2 pull-down feature for
optimized movie playback, as well as comprehensive connectivity options. They
are each scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter at prices to be announced
later.
