Victor Musical Industries' HMV Division Announces End of Selectavision XL 100 & XL 80 HMV SmartTV Product Line
Camden, New Jersey – Victor Musical Industries Inc. (VMI) has announced that its HMV division will retire its SmartTV product line, including the iconic XL-100 and XL-80 television brands. This strategic decision is part of the company’s ongoing reorganization to de-emphasize non-sound-centric technologies in favor of focusing on audio, sound, and musical instrument development.
The XL-100 and XL-80 SmartTV series were launched in 2020 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the television's birth in Camden, New Jersey. The first television was developed and released in 1939 by the RCA-Victor Company - a relative of the modern company.
Designed by The Victor Laboratories in Camden and assembled locally at Victor Camden County, the limited edition run of XL-100 and XL-80 SmartTVs paid homage to this legacy of innovation that began in 1896 with the introduction of development of the record player and disc record by what would become the Victor Talking Machine Co. The limited run HMV SmartTV series sold out upon its release in 2022, leading to an extension of production until 2024 due to demand.
“We are immensely proud of the design, reception, and success of the XL-100 and XL-80 SmartTV line - they represented an important anniversary in Camden and for the home entertainment industry with 80 years since the release of the very first televisions by RCA-Victor in 1939. In the future, we hope to make these special products again and again and keep them exclusive to fans of the brand and heritage of Camden’s technological prowess” said Graham Alexander, CEO of Victor Musical Industries Inc. “Their popularity reaffirmed our commitment to quality and innovation, rooted in Camden’s rich history as the birthplace of television. As we move forward, our core strengths in sound and music technology will remain our focus - and the focus particularly of the HMV brand.”
While the retirement of the current XL-100 and XL-80 SmartTV lines marks the end of an era, VMI plans to explore the release of limited runs of these iconic models in the future. In the meantime, the company will concentrate on refining its strategic vision to prioritize its dedication to sound-focused products and technologies.
###
About Victor Musical Industries:
Victor Musical Industries (VMI) is a renowned leader in the music and home entertainment industries with a rich heritage dating back to the 1800s and the founding of the global media and music industries. Reestablished in 2011 under the leadership of arts/commerce focused independent leadership, the company returned to the Camden County/Philadelphia area where it maintains operations in marketing, product design, engineering, recording, production, and manufacturing related to its strategic vision of a community centric beneficial music and home entertainment industry.
For more information about Victor Musical Industries, please visit
www.victormusicalindustries.com (VMI Corporate)
www.victorentertainment.com (Victor Entertainment)
www.victorrecords.com (Victor Records Group)
www.hismastersvoice.com (HMV® Creative Technologies)
Media Contact:
Tracey Sutton
Public Relations Coordinator
NEMS® Public Relations Division of The Caroline Group | A VMI Company
Phone: 1-(844) 802-2557
Email: traceysutton@victorrecords.com
The Selectavision brand of SmartTV will be retired alongside the XL100 and XL80 - the company has signaled the return of these brands as special items in the future.
HMV by Victor will continue to design and manufacture Victor's 'Victrola' and 'Electrola' brand home and personal audio products - while directing remnants of the computer division to focus on sound and music focused software in an effort to refocus 'His Masters Voice' to primarily music and sound (and sound technology) products.
VMI is the parent company of HMV.