VIZIO Reveals Tenth Annual Top Value Performer Award Nominees, Invites Fans to Vote For Their Favorite Professional Football Player
Irvine, CA — January 4, 2017 — VIZIO, Inc. today announced nominees for its tenth annual VIZIO Top Value Performer (TVP) award which aims to recognize the professional football player whose on-field performance most exceeds the value of their base salary. This year boasts another compelling crop of talent including Miami’s Jay Ajayi, Oakland’s Latavius Murray, New Orleans’s Michael Thomas, Kansas City’s Spencer Ware and San Diego’s Tyrell Williams. Fans are invited to visit VIZIO.com/TVP to vote for their favorite nominee between now and January 16, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
VIZIO has partnered with pro-football analyst and former general manager, Charley Casserly, to expertly determine this year’s deserving TVP nominees. As in years past, candidates for the tenth annual award were based on players’ regular season performances, statistics and role in the success of their respective teams. These factors were then measured against their annual base salaries to select the finalists.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate a decade of the VIZIO Top Value Performer award with what we believe to be one of the strongest classes of talent we’ve ever seen,” said Lily Knowles, Vice President of Product Marketing, VIZIO. ”The TVP award continues to generate attention from sports fans across the country, giving them the chance to speak up and recognize the performances of their favorite players from around the league. This year promises to be a highly competitive race, and we’re excited to root on these athletes as they rally for their fan votes to become the tenth annual Top Value Performer.”
VIZIO is looking to fans nationwide to choose the 2016 Top Value Performer by voting online at VIZIO.com/TVP from now until January 16, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Fans visiting the site can also browse each players’ stats and take a look at Casserly’s commentary videos for an expert opinion on the performance of each of this year’s nominees. Fans are encouraged to vote as many times as they’d like to help their favorite candidate capture this year’s honors.
Following each vote, fans will have a chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 80” Class Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display ™. In addition, members of VIZIO Fandemonium will earn points for their votes, redeemable for prizes like signed memorabilia, VIZIO products, digital downloads and more. The 2016 VIZIO TVP will be announced in the weeks following the close of voting. No purchase is necessary and fans do not have to be a member of VIZIO Fandemonium to enter the sweepstakes.
Just as this season’s TVP candidates serve as a great value to their respective teams, VIZIO continues to provide value to consumers as one of America’s leading consumer electronics brands. VIZIO SmartCast™, VIZIO’s new smart entertainment ecosystem spanning TVs, displays, sound bars and speakers, feature Chromecast built-in so users can stream content from their favorite apps on their mobile devices right to their VIZIO SmartCast device, from anywhere in their home. This intuitive whole-home entertainment experience is brought to life through the VIZIO SmartCast app, which allows users to transform their mobile device into a powerful touchscreen remote to simply discover, cast and control TV shows, movies, music and more.
The 2016 VIZIO Top Value Performer nominees include:
Jay Ajayi, RB, Miami #23 (Twitter @JayTrain23 // #TVPAjayi) After starting the season as a backup, Jay Ajayi burst onto the scene and emerged as the top threat for Miami’s offense. He is on pace to easily pass 1,000 yards on the ground this season, and his running ability has quickly helped brighten his team’s outlook. As one of the league’s leaders in rushing yards, and with a base salary of $525,000, Ajayi deserves consideration for this year's TVP award.
Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland #29 (Twitter @lataviusm // #TVPMurray) Latavius Murray entered his fourth season in Oakland with high expectations, and he has not disappointed. This year, Murray has shown a knack for finding the end zone and despite missing a few weeks with an injury, he is still on pace to finish among the league leaders in rushing touchdowns on the season. His strong running style has added another element to a resurgent Oakland team, and with a base salary of $675,000 Murray is a compelling candidate for this year’s TVP award.
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans #13 (Twitter @cantguardmike // #TVPWilliams) Most rookies spend their first season playing behind veteran teammates, but if there’s one thing Michael Thomas has done, it’s prove that he is not like most rookies. Thomas has been a revelation for New Orleans, adding even more firepower to one of the league’s most elite offenses. With an effective combination of size and speed, the future looks bright for Thomas as he continues to strive towards being one of the best receivers in the game. Making just $450,000 this season, Thomas is definitely a strong candidate for the tenth annual TVP award.
Spencer Ware, RB, Kansas City #32 (Twitter @spenceware11 // #TVPWare) Since finding a home in Kansas City, Spencer Ware has blossomed into one of the best dual-threat running backs in league. This season, Ware was thrust into duty following an injury to one of his teammates. Since taking over the starting role, he has become one of the most effective players when it comes to racking up both rushing and receiving yards. A base salary of $600,000, coupled with a standout performance this season, makes Ware a compelling candidate for the 2016 TVP award.
Tyrell Williams, WR, San Diego #16 (Twitter @TyrellWilliams_ // #TVPWilliams) Tyrell Williams joined San Diego’s offense as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and impressed his coaching staff despite limited action in his first year. This season, he has seamlessly stepped into a starting role and solidified himself as a dominant offensive weapon. With multiple 100-yard games under his belt, Williams is on pace to eclipse 1,000-yards in his first year as a starter. His performance on the field has been a huge asset to his team and with a base salary of $525,000, Williams is certainly worthy of consideration for this year’s TVP award.
Previous TVP winners include wide receiver Allen Robinson (2015), wide receiver Kenny Stills (2014), quarterback Russell Wilson (2012 and 2013), wide receiver Victor Cruz (2011), wide receiver Stevie Johnson (2010), wide receiver Steve Smith (2009), quarterback Matt Cassel (2008) and quarterback David Garrard (2007).
About VIZIO
VIZIO’s mission is to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience through our community of connected consumers, advertisers, and media content providers. Through our connected entertainment platform, VIZIO is transforming the way consumers discover and experience media content. Since our founding in California in 2002, VIZIO has built an industry-leading brand and sold over 75 million products, including televisions, sound bars and other devices. VIZIO is a leading HDTV brand in America1 and is the #1 sound bar brand in America2. VIZIO product leadership is highlighted by a number of industry reviews and awards, making the 2016 collection the most awarded in company history. The VIZIO SmartCast P-Series, M-Series and E-Series Home Theater Displays all received Reviewed.com Editor’s Choice awards3 and are all listed as CNET’s “Best TVs of 20164.” The VIZIO M-Series SmartCast Home Theater Display was awarded Editor’s Choice from CNET with an 8.8 rating5 and the VIZIO SmartCast 65” E-Series Home Theater Display (E65u-D3) was awarded Reviewed.com’s "Best TV of the Year” award for 20166. Also, the VIZIO D-Series earned a 2016 Editor’s Choice award from PC Magazine7. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit www.VIZIO.com .
© 2016 VIZIO, Inc. VIZIO, the V Logo, VIZIO SmartCast, Active LED Zones and other terms and phrases are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks and logos are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
1 The NPD Group / Weekly Retail Tracking Service, based on TV units sold in the U.S. from Dec. 30, 2012- Aug. 27, 2016
2 The NPD Group / Weekly Retail Tracking Service, based on sound bar units sold in the U.S. from Dec. 30, 2012- Aug. 27, 2016
3 Visit reviewed.com for full reviews for the VIZIO SmartCast P-Series (published: 10/28/2016), VIZIO SmartCast M-Series (published: 10/5/2016) and VIZIO SmartCast E-Series (published: 9/13/2016)
4 Visit CNET.com for full article (published: 12/16/2016)
5 Visit CNET.com for the full review, published 9/16/2016
6 Visit reviewed.com for the full E65u-D3 review, published 11/14/16
7 Visit pcmag.com for the full VIZIO D-Series review, published 3/24/16
Press Contacts for VIZIO:
Katie Kotarak
The Brand AMP
T: 949-438-1078
Jim Noyd
Noyd Communications Inc.
T: 310-951-3768
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