VIZIO Unveils Rhapsody Digital Music Service for VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) Connected HDTVs

June 23, 2009

VIZIO Unveils Rhapsody Digital Music Service for VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) Connected HDTVs

- VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) found in VIZIO’s high performance XVT series HDTVs provide consumers with access to Rhapsody’s award-winning digital music service through a rich, interactive and intuitive user interface designed for the big screen

- Easily browse Rhapsody’s catalog of more than 7 million songs using VIZIO’s customized Bluetooth universal remote control with sliding QWERTY keyboard all while simultaneously watching TV

- Rhapsody’s Digital Music Service to be demonstrated today on VIA™ enabled HDTVs

New York, NY and Irvine, CA – June 23, 2009 -- VIZIO, America’s #1 HDTV and Fastest Growing Consumer Electronics Company, will be demonstrating their VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) Connected HDTVs featuring the Rhapsody digital music service in press events this week in New York City. Through VIZIO’s VIA™ Connected HDTVs, Rhapsody subscribers will be able to access and enjoy any of more than 7 million songs right from their easy chair. These connected HDTVs will be the first to offer Rhapsody’s digital music service and are scheduled to hit stores nationwide this fall.

“Today VIZIO is pleased to be unveiling the first connected HDTV implementation of Rhapsody’s award-winning digital music service streaming right to VIZIO VIA™ enabled HDTVs,” says Matthew McRae, VIZIO VP of Products. “Rhapsody is just one of many innovative web-based applications that will roll out on our VIA™ Connected HDTV platform this year, and we’re pleased to be working with Rhapsody to deliver a tightly integrated and rich experience that consumers won’t find on any other HDTV currently in the market.”

Rhapsody Music on Your VIZIO HDTV

Rhapsody subscribers will now be able to browse Rhapsody’s massive catalog of more than seven million songs, all while simultaneously watching TV on their VIZIO VIA™ Connected HDTV. Users will be able to listen on demand to new releases, top albums, artists and songs, celebrity playlists, artist channels and much more from the easy-to-navigate menus custom-designed for the television. Using the VIZO VIA™ remote with built-in slider QWERTY keyboard, searching for any song title, artist or album also becomes truly effortless.

With a VIA™ enabled HDTV, Rhapsody subscribers will also be able to:

- View cover art of new releases and top albums in both sidebar and full screen modes

- Access all their personal playlists and library of favorite tunes saved on other Rhapsody enabled devices including PCs, portable music players, TiVo and other home audio devices

- Create playlists and add their favorite tunes to their personal Rhapsody library right from the TV

- Easily discover more songs from their favorite artists, or similar artists and albums

- Conveniently access playback functions, such as play/pause, FFW/REV, track skip and scan -- right from the VIZIO VIA™ remote

- Listen to Rhapsody’s professionally programmed and exclusive music channels and playlists including celebrity picks, decade mixes, genre mixes, special label spotlights and more

- Access Rhapsody’s extensive music guide and discover more music by genre

Once the user makes a selection, the track streams on demand direct to the VIA™ Connected HDTV using wireless (802.11n dual-band) or wired networking that is built into the TV. No dongles or accessories required, consumers can just connect the VIZIO VIA enabled HDTV to their high-speed Internet connection, and with one click, see all of their favorite online services like Rhapsody right on the big screen.

“The availability of Rhapsody on VIZIO HDTVs is a critical advancement toward the fulfillment of our vision of giving subscribers the ability to access Rhapsody everywhere they want to enjoy music for a flat monthly fee,” says Drew Denbo, general manager of business development at Rhapsody America. “VIZIO’s #1 market position and their commitment to building quality electronics at market leading prices makes them an ideal partner to launch the first Rhapsody integrated TV.”

VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) -- Connecting to the Future of Television

Delivering unprecedented choice and control of web-based content directly to the television with just one button push and without the need of a PC or set-top box, VIZIO’s VIA™ Connected HDTV feature offers viewers the most convenient access to the widest range of top Internet content and services – all while simultaneously watching traditional TV broadcast or recorded video, for truly the ultimate experience in couch surfing

The VIA™ Connected HDTV feature includes built-in wireless (802.11n dual-band) and wired networking, a customized Bluetooth universal remote control with sliding QWERTY keyboard for easy thumb-typing, and interactive setup video to guide users step-by-step to easily connect their VIZIO TV and customize the remote to control their other attached CE source devices.

Previously announced content and service providers who are building VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA™) in 2009 include: Accedo Broadband®, Amazon Video On Demand®, Blockbuster On Demand®, Flickr®, Netflix®, Pandora® and Rhapsody®. With today’s announcement of additional partners including eBay®, Facebook®, Radiotime®, Revision 3®, Rallypoint Sports®, Showtime®, Twitter® and Vudu®, the VIA platform offers by far the category’s most comprehensive and compelling web-based content for Internet televisions.

Getting a First Look and Listen

VIZIO’s VIA™ Connected HDTVs with Rhapsody’s digital music service will be demonstrated in New York during private press meetings 6/23-24, at the Text100 press event 6/23 and during PEPCOM’s Digital Experience press event 6/24. To request appointments or for more information about these events, please call or email the agency contacts below.

About VIZIO
VIZIO, Inc., "Where Vision Meets Value," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America’s #1 HDTV and Fastest Growing Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead major categories in U.S. TV sales. Since 2007 VIZIO HDTV shipments remain in the TOP ranks in the U.S. and are again #1 in Q1, 2009 with over 20% market share. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich flat panel televisions to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning Plasma and LCD HDTVs including the new XVT series. VIZIO’s products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Sears, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, CNET's Top 10 Holiday Gifts and PC World's Best Buy among others. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.

The V, VIZIO, XVT, VIA, TruLED, 240Hz SPS, Slim Line, Smooth Motion, JAVA, Where Vision Meets Value names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.

About Rhapsody
Rhapsody® offers an integrated and immersive digital music experience accessible to consumers via their computer, portable music device and soon their mobile phone. Rhapsody is the exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks®, Inc. and for MTV Networks' music and pop-culture brands in the United States. Rhapsody is a service of Rhapsody America LLC, a joint venture between MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) and RealNetworks (Nasdaq RNWK).

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Source: VIZIO, Inc.

Note for press only:
Photos, additional information and interview requests should be directed to agency.

Press Contacts for VIZIO:
Jim Noyd
Noyd Communications Inc.
T: 310-951-3768
E: jim.noyd@noydcom.com

Charley Fitzwilliam
Leader Enterprises
T: 949-579-0405
E: cfitzwilliam@leaderenterprises.com

Press Contact for Rhapsody:
Ryan Luckin
T: 206-892-6330
E: rluckin@real.com

Note for press only:
Photos, additional information and interview requests should be directed to agencies.