TV brands, their history, who owns TV brands

Many well-known television brands have changed their business models in today’s market. Some have stopped producing televisions, sold their businesses and trademarks, or licensed their brands to other manufacturers. Such changes often result in the quality and technology of the televisions sold under these well-known names. A prime example is Finlux TVs in the UK, which had a significant market share in the early 2010s. Still, by 2017, their share had declined significantly, with the manufacturer Turkish Vestel unable to maintain its leadership. The second example is Toshiba TVs; the imaging division was sold to Hisense, with the right to use the Toshiba brand, and there are many such examples.  

Overview of the television industry and brand ownership

The television market has undergone significant changes, resulting in a diverse landscape of companies and brands. To understand this landscape, it is necessary to categorize companies into different types based on their role in the television industry:

Innovative TV manufacturers

These are companies at the forefront of television technology development and production. They are known for pioneering new technologies and maintaining strong brands. The number of these companies is limited, but they are recognized as industry leaders for their innovative approaches and high-quality products. The leaders in recent years have been LG and Samsung.

OEM TV manufacturers

Original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies are engaged in the mass production of televisions under their brand name or for other companies. They may also produce televisions on an outsourced or licensed basis, where they are given the rights to produce televisions under a well-known brand name. Such companies, although few, are usually large enterprises. Examples are Hisense, TPV Vizion, and Vestel.

Component manufacturers

This category includes companies specializing in manufacturing TV components, primarily display panels. They are an integral part of the TV manufacturing process. This segment has also come under turbulence. Samsung sold its LED display business to TCL. LG is also considering selling some of its obsolete factories. 

Brand Owners Who Outsource Production

These companies own the TV brands but do not handle the manufacturing. Instead, they outsource TV production to OEMs and sell the products under their brand name. This business model allows them to focus on marketing and brand management without the complexities associated with manufacturing. Examples of such companies and brands are Vizio, Amazon TV, and Grundig.

TV brand names list

The television industry is represented by various brands, each with unique offerings and market presence. To help you understand who is behind the brands and who actually makes TVs, here is a list of some of the most well-known TV brands:

TV brand	Brand registration country	Who now uses the brand	Who makes TVs
Bang & Olufsen (B&O)	Denmark	Bang & Olufsen (B&O)	LG production, B&Q supplements
Continental Edison	French	Casino store	China, production discontinued in 2020
Blaupunkt	Germany	Aurelius AG	Production outsourcing India, China
Grundig	Germany	Beko	Beko Turkey
Haier	China	Haier	Haier China
Hisense	China	Hisense	Hisense China
Hitachi	Japan	Hitachi	has not produced TVs since 2012; the televisions are produced by Vestel and Hisense under an outsourcing scheme.
Huawei	China	Huawei	OEM manufacturers in China
Hyundai	Korea	many companies	OEM manufacturers in China
Insignia	US	Best Buy	Hisense China
Element	US	Tsinghua Tongfang	Tsinghua Tongfang China (U.S. assembly)
Westinghouse	US	Tsinghua Tongfang	Tsinghua Tongfang China
THTF	China	Tsinghua Tongfang	Tsinghua Tongfang China
Seiki	US	Tsinghua Tongfang	Tsinghua Tongfang China
JVC	Japan	Shenzhen MTC for US, Canada. Vestel for Europe	Shenzhen MTC China, Vestel Turkey
Konka	China	Konka Group Co., Ltd	Konka China
LeEco	China	LeEco Smart Ecosystem	LeEco China
LG	Korea	LG	LG
Loewe	Germany	Skytec Group Ltd	Loewe
Motorola	US	Lenovo	Lenovo
Nevir	Spain	Nevir	China
Nokia	Finland	Flipkart India Private Limited	India
Oppo	China	Oppo	Oppo China (BBK subsidiary)
Panasonic	Japan	Panasonic	TPV China, Panasonic Malaysia
Philips	Netherlands	TP Vision Europe: Funai US, Canada	TPV China, Funai China
RCA	US	Curtis International	China
Samsung	Korea	Samsung	Samsung
Sceptre	US	Sceptre	China New Technology Group Co
Sharp	Japan	Sharp	SKYTEC UMC Management s. r. o. Slovakia
Skyworth	China	Skyworth	Hong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings Co. China
Sony	Japan	Sony	Foxconn Taiwan, Premium TVs made by Sony Malaysia, Japan.
TCL	China	TCL	TCL China
Telefunken	Germany	Vestel	Vestel Turkey
Thomson	France	TCL	TCL China
Toshiba	Japan	Compal US; Vestel Europe; Other countries Hisense	Compal Electronics, Inc. Taiwan; Vestel Turkey; Hisense China
Vestel	Turkey	Vestel	Vestel Turkey
Vizio	US	Vizio	China
Funai	Japan	Funai	Funai
Polaroid	US	Vestel Europe: Empire Electronics US	Vestel Turkey; Empire Electronics
SunbriteTV	US	SnapAV	SnapAV US

TV brands in 2000-2023

In TVs, the period from 2000 to 2023 was marked by significant changes in brand dynamics and technological advancements. In the early 2000s, the market was dominated by a few key players. Japanese brands such as Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, and Funai were leading brands known for their innovation and quality. European competitors such as Philips, Grundig, and Thompson held significant positions, while American brands such as Vizio and Magnavox focused on their home market. Meanwhile, Korean giants LG and Samsung were making a name for themselves, and Chinese companies were starting to venture onto the global stage.

By 2014, however, the TV market had changed dramatically. Fierce competition led to change, especially from new Chinese brands offering more affordable alternatives. Well-known brands such as Toshiba, Philips, Thompson, Grundig, and Sharp changed ownership. Many of these brands shifted their focus to the budget segment, licensing their names to other manufacturers, and OEMs began producing big-name TVs.

After 2014, the market turbulence began to subside, leaving a few premium manufacturers at the top. LG and Samsung led the way in innovation, particularly in display technology, and began using their operating systems for TVs. Sony and Panasonic, while remaining significant players have adapted to using third-party operating systems and producing some TVs through OEM assemblers. Despite their strong positions, these brands have faced their challenges. Samsung struggled to break into markets such as China and Japan. Panasonic struggled to compete in North America and eventually lost that market. LG and Sony felt pressure from low-cost Chinese competitors.

Changes in the TV industry have also called into question the fate of older, established brands. Companies such as Sony, Panasonic, LG, and Samsung, which began making electronics in the 1960s, continued to be household names. However, the emergence of Chinese companies in the twenty-first century brought new competition, although they often needed more advanced designs inherent in Japanese and Korean brands. China’s active investment in display technology and production indicates its desire to enter the premium TV segment.

Thus, the path of the TV industry from 2000 to 2023 reflects the history of technology development, changing market dominance, and the constant interplay between innovation, brand heritage, and consumer preferences.

A brief overview of TV brands

Samsung, the South Korean leader in the production of televisions, has long been committed to innovation and the development of new technologies in the television sector. Notably, until 2022, the company was focused on QLED display technology. That year marked a significant change for Samsung: Samsung sold its Chinese QLED panel manufacturing plant to TCL. This entailed a significant milestone: a complete switch of Samsung’s LED TVs to third-party panels. In another strategic move, Samsung launched its QD-OLED panel factory, entering the OLED TV market.

LG, another major South Korean company, has played an essential role in the TV industry and is primarily known for producing large OLED screens. This technology has played a vital role in setting new standards in the TV market. LG not only produces these screens for their use but also supplies them to other manufacturers, expanding the reach and influence of OLED technology. Their Smart TVs are powered by WebOS, an operating system designed for an intuitive and rich user experience. LG’s TV line targets different market segments, offering high-end and budget models. LG Corporation owns about 30% of the company, with the rest distributed among Korean investment funds, private owners, and foreign investors.

Panasonic, the Japanese electronics titan, has recently changed its approach to the TV market. Once known for making televisions, the company stopped selling them in the U.S. in 2014 and Canada in 2020. In 2016, Panasonic stopped making screens for its TVs, and as of 2017, all screens for Panasonic TVs are made by third-party companies. Panasonic outsourced part of its TV production: low-cost models for the European market are produced by the Chinese company TPV, which also produces Philips TVs. However, Panasonic’s OLED TVs and premium models are still produced at the company’s factories in Malaysia. These TVs run Android or My Home Screen, the latter being a modification of Firefox OS developed and supported by Panasonic.

Sony, a prestigious Japanese brand, has been a consistent player in the TV market, known for manufacturing TVs under its brand name. Historically, Sony has supplied TV screens to other manufacturers, most notably LG. However, in 2022, the company also started buying OLED displays from Samsung. Sony TVs are known for their quality software, powerful processors, and ample storage capacity. Sony outsources the production of budget models, but the primary production is carried out by the Taiwanese corporation Foxconn. Sony’s factories in Japan and Malaysia are responsible for assembling premium TVs for the markets of Singapore, Japan, and China. In recent years, Sony has switched to using the Google TV platform in its televisions, moving away from Android TV. This change reflects Sony’s involvement in developing the Google TV platform.

Toshiba, a well-known name in the electronics industry, has undergone a significant change in its TV division. In America in 2015, the brand sold its TV business to Compal, a significant component and electronics manufacturer, including a factory in Mexico. Toshiba’s exit from TV manufacturing was more comprehensive than the US: Turkish company Vestel’s TVs were now manufactured in Europe. The most notable shift came at the end of 2017 when Toshiba announced the sale of its TV segment to Chinese company Hisense. The move marked the end of Toshiba’s development of visual technology: production and innovation will now be handled by Hisense.

Bang & Olufsen (B&O), a Danish brand known for its premium TVs, represents a unique case. While LG is responsible for the electronic components of its TVs, B&O brings a touch of luxury and uniqueness to its TVs. The TVs use high-quality materials, motorized stands, natural wood finishes, enhanced acoustics, and exclusive metal remote controls with displays. These luxury elements are assembled in Denmark and the Czech Republic, supporting the brand’s commitment to quality and design excellence.

Blaupunkt’s journey has been quite tumultuous. It was initially a German brand of the Bosch-Siemens group but was sold to Aurelius AG in 2008. After the sale, production was moved to China, affecting the products’ overall quality. By 2016, the company faced bankruptcy and liquidation, and its production facilities were sold off. However, the Blaupunkt brand continues to exist, is now owned by Aurelius AG, and is available for leasing.

Continental Edison has changed ownership several times throughout its history, eventually becoming part of the French financial group Casino. The brand, mainly manufactured by Turkish company Vestel, ceased television production in 2020.

Funai, which owns brands such as Magnavox, Philips (for the American market), SANYO, and Kodak (printers), specializes in producing cost-effective televisions. Operating primarily in the North American market, the corporation licenses and manufactures electronics under various brand names, and its main manufacturing facilities are located in China.

Grundig’s history is a story of ups and downs since its founding in 1930. The brand is currently owned by Beko, part of the Turkish company Arçelik A.Ş., which in turn is a subsidiary of Koç Holding A.Ş. Although Grundig no longer exists, its brand continues under Turkish management. Beko Grundig Germany GmbH represents the brand in Germany. TVs assembled in Turkey and consisting mainly of components from China are sold as “assembled in Europe,” emphasizing the geographical location of their production in the European part of Turkey.

Haier, known primarily as a manufacturer of home appliances, attempted to diversify its product portfolio by entering the TV market in 2017-2018. Despite significant efforts, Haier’s TVs have had mixed success, with notable sales in some markets but limited global impact overall. The company continues to produce TVs, focusing mainly on the Asian and Chinese markets.

Hisense, a well-known Chinese electronics manufacturer, plays a dual role in the TV market. It manufactures about half of its own brand and holds licenses to produce TVs under other brands. In the US, Hisense produced Sharp-branded TVs until 2019 and has been producing Toshiba-branded TVs in other regions since 2018. Hisense’s portfolio owns several brands, such as Hitachi, Lucent, Matsushita, NEC, Sanyo, Toshiba, and Qualcomm, making it a significant player in manufacturing and brand management.

Hitachi, once Japan’s largest electronics and industrial equipment maker, overhauled its TV manufacturing strategy between 2010 and 2012. The company decided to sell its TV assembly plants, and the last one in Japan was sold in 2012. Hitachi moved to outsource TV production: various manufacturers, such as Vestel in Europe and Hisense in North America, produced TVs under the Hitachi brand. This transition led to a decline in the brand’s market presence and credibility.

Huawei, which initially built its business like Cisco, faced significant challenges in 2019 due to U.S. sanctions. These sanctions have restricted Huawei’s access to export technology and components, forcing the company to shift its focus from manufacturing enterprise devices and phones to consumer electronics, including televisions. Huawei’s TVs are made by OEMs in China, and the brand uses its name to hold its own in a competitive market.

Hyundai, widely known for its automobiles, has never been in the consumer electronics business. Instead, the company decided to license its brand to manufacture televisions, allowing various companies to produce televisions under the Hyundai name. These companies typically outsource production to OEMs, so it’s hard to single out any one manufacturer of Hyundai-branded TVs.

Insignia TV, owned by the American chain Best Buy, positions itself in the budget TV segment. The brand’s TVs are made primarily by the Chinese company Hisense, which aligns with the industry’s standard practice of retailers creating their own brands and outsourcing production.

Element TV: These brands, part of the China Tsinghua Tongfang umbrella, serve to diversify the company’s TV offerings. Manufactured in China, some Element TVs are assembled in the U.S. from off-the-shelf components. These brands primarily target the budget segment of televisions in the U.S. market.

JVC: After ceasing production of TVs in 2010, JVC sold the rights to manufacture JVC-branded TVs to various companies. AmTran Video acquired the rights in North America, followed by Shenzhen MTC. In Europe, the license was acquired by Vestel. The TVs produced under these licenses vary in quality, reflecting the different manufacturing approaches of the licensees.

Konka, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, produces a wide range of TVs on various platforms and operating systems, including Android, LG’s Web OS, and its Android add-on, PTK 5.3. Although the company offers OLED models with screens from LG and other manufacturers, some of its products use older-generation panels or outdated operating systems, which affects the brand’s competitiveness.

LeEco, best known for its failed attempt to acquire Vizio, made televisions primarily for markets in China, India, the U.S., and Russia. Financial difficulties forced the company to withdraw from the global market, focusing its efforts on China, which continues to make TVs.

Loewe: German company Loewe, known for its high-end TVs, has gone through several financial crises, the latest of which occurred in 2019. Asian investment fund Skytec Group Ltd then acquired the company. Despite producing only a few models yearly, Loewe TVs are known for their quality materials and exclusive features. However, the market for ultra-expensive TVs like Loewe TVs still needs to grow.

Lenovo: After being acquired by Lenovo, Motorola entered the TV market under its well-known brand. However, despite the efforts to promote the brand, it failed in the global market. Today, Motorola TVs are assembled mainly in India from Chinese components, targeting the Indian market and other regions.

Nevir, operating in Spain and Portugal, is a retailer that sources its TVs from China. The actual manufacturers of these TVs remain unknown, but they are likely ordered from Chinese OEMs.

Nokia, which once manufactured televisions until 1995, stopped producing them due to unprofitability. Later, the Nokia brand for TVs was licensed to Flipkart India Private Limited, a major retailer in India. These TVs are assembled in India from components manufactured by OEMs, mainly to take advantage of local tax incentives.

Oppo, a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, manufactures TVs in China, mainly for the local market.

Philips, the electronics giant, stopped making TVs in 2010. TP Vision acquired the rights to manufacture and sell Philips-branded televisions for several regions and Funai Corporation for the U.S. market. The quality of Philips TVs today varies considerably, given that different manufacturers are involved in production.

RCA: Once a significant player in the electronics market, RCA was bought by Technicolor. The rights to sell RCA-branded TVs were transferred to Curtis International, and production was transferred to OEMs.

Sceptre, a U.S. brand, outsources TV production to OEMs and ODMs in China, primarily China New Technology Group Co.

Sharp, a Japanese corporation with a diverse portfolio, has seen its TV business become unprofitable. The TV business in the Americas, including a plant in Mexico, was sold to Hisense in 2015. Sharp fought to regain control of the North American market but eventually reached an out-of-court settlement in 2019. Sharp licensed its TV brand in Europe to Slovakian company UMC (Universal Media Corporation). Sharp has since regained control of TV production, although the focus has shifted to budget models.

Skyworth, a leader in the Chinese TV market, not only produces equipment under its brand but also does OEM and ODM manufacturing for other brands.

TCL, a prominent Chinese electronics manufacturer, ranks among the top in production volume. The company manufactures its LCD panels and plans to start producing OLED screens. TCL has both budget and more expensive models in its range.

Telefunken, TVs now made by Turkish concern Profilio-Telra, has abandoned its German roots and moved to a more budget approach in TV production.

The Thomson brand for TVs was acquired by TCL, which now sells its Thomson-branded TVs in Europe.

Vestel: The Turkish OEM giant Vestel makes TVs under its brand and for other companies.

Vizio, an American company known for budget TVs, does not manufacture but outsources production to factories in China and Mexico. The brand focuses on sales and service, maintaining lean operations with an aggressive pricing strategy.

Polaroid: after bankruptcy in 2011, Polaroid TV was manufactured by Vestel in Europe and licensed to Empire Electronics in the US.

SunbriteTV, acquired by SnapAV in 2015, specializes in outdoor TVs with features to withstand the elements.

Supersonic Inc. owns the Supersonic brand, producing a variety of electronics, including TVs, most likely through OEM manufacturers.