Vizio ($VZIO) is expanding into streaming as the company celebrates its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange.
Founded in 2002, the company has become one of the country's leading television makers, and, according to CFO Adam Townsend, its SmartCast expansion will help drive new advertising and content revenue opportunities.
"We're now moving more into a dual revenue structure where not only do we make money when someone buys the TV but we're making revenue when they use the TV," Townsend told Cheddar.
He said Vizio's "integrated experience" separates the company from others in the industry, particularly because all of its expanded features are in one central hub.
For consumers, the SmartCast streaming platform offers simplicity. According to the CFO, the new model TVs make cord-cutting a breeze and come loaded with several streaming options and free channels.
The company will be able to track engagement through embedded software that can both curate more personalized content for the viewer as it learns what the person likes to watch as well as produce data for advertisers to narrow promotions for their target audiences.
"Addressable advertising, targeted advertising is really the future of where this is going," Townsend noted. "It's really transformative not only for us but the ecosystem at large."
Though the tech industry has been bogged down by the global chip shortage, Townsend said his company's close ties with manufacturers have kept the supply chain up and running.
Vizio closed its first day of trading at $19.10, down 9 percent from its $21 pricing.
We may not be headed for a 2008-esque disaster, but increased geopolitical tension paired with the end of the tech boom means volatility could stick around.
The dreaded Netflix crackdown on profile sharing translated into a major boost in subscribers while the promised rate cuts seem to be a far off fantasy.
After the 2021 boom, IPO activity slowed down significantly, in part due to monetary policy – but things are getting moving again with tech-friendly companies like Iboutta and Rubrik making a public debut.
With an increasing demand for mental health services, one person wanted to change the therapy game. In 2017, CEO Alex Katz founded Two Chairs, a company that uses technology to match patients with the right therapist.
Not only is April Financial Literacy Month, it’s also the kickoff of the spring homebuying season. So now is the time to make sure you have a financial plan in place – and why it might not be wise for that to include buying your first home.
