Sony officially launched its OLED Bravia A1E TV at retail at a premiere event yesterday at Video & Audio Center (VAC) in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Joining VAC co-founders Joseph and Mayer Akhtarazad and VAC corporate director Tom Campbell were Mike Fasulo, Sony Electronics’ president and Richard Berger, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment senior VP for worldwide digital strategy and advanced platforms.
Pointing to Sony’s mission to provide “quality, design and innovation,” Fasulo and Berger previewed scenes from Sony Picture’s upcoming “Spiderman Homecoming,” opening in theaters on July 7, as well as scenes from Ang Lee’s “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” the first Ultra HD Blu-ray in 4K/HDR with a 60 fps frame rate. Pointing to OLED’s consistent picture presentation and super accurate image quality, the new OLED sets were described as “the ultimate plasma replacement” that is not just a “smart TV” but a “genius TV.”
Sony-exclusive “speaker in screen” Acoustic Surface technology was a big draw to a standing-room only crowd in the store. As a proof-point, three customers bought units immediately after the presentation, with one customer purchasing two: a 55-inch and a 65-inch model. Also proving the traffic draw of the premiere, one of the first three purchasers drove up from San Diego after hearing about the event through VAC’s radio advertising.
A total of 16 units were sold in the first hour after the introduction; the retailer has already placed an order for air freight delivery to meet expected demand.
On hand to celebrate the retail launch of Sony’s first Bravia OLED models were (left to right) Richard Berger, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Sr. VP, Worldwide Digital Strategy and Advanced Platforms, VAC co-founder Joseph Akhtarzad, Mike Fasulo President, Sony Electronics, Mayer Akhtarzad VAC co- founder, and VAC Corporate Director Tom Campbell:
