Hannspree to Launch Radical New Line of Design-Driven “Lifestyle” Televisions in the United States
NEW YORK, June 23, 2005 — Hannspree California Inc. today announced that it will launch a bold new breed of visually inspiring television sets in the U.S. this summer. Hannspree draws upon contemporary interior design trends and individual passions to create televisions that uniquely accent any room and give expression to any taste or lifestyle.
Hannspree’s televisions mark the creation of an entirely new audiovisual category, one driven by innovative design and a commitment to individuality. The company’s diverse range of more than 100 original products allows consumers to find a TV that exactly embodies their personality and interests. One TV, for example, echoes the classic, sophisticated wooden lines of a cello, while others use hand-stitched leather to replicate the look and feel of a baseball, or incorporate child-friendly fabrics to make animal-shaped TVs that are as tactile as they are endearing.
Hannspree also creates TVs that celebrate some of America’s most cherished brands and icons, from entertainment legends to the New York Yankees and all 30 NBA teams. In order to maximize the impact of its U.S. debut, Hannspree has signed licensing and marketing deals with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), and is exploring opportunities to extend its Asia licensing relationship with Disney into the U.S.
Every Hannspree TV employs a flat-screen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that delivers brilliant, accurate color reproduction and exceptional clarity and contrast. The company’s widescreen TVs (screens of 23″ and larger) are HDTV-compatible.
“Consumers can at last own a TV that both appeals on an emotional level and delivers an excellent viewing experience,” said Rick Calacci, Hannspree’s senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas. “In a world of infinite choices, people deserve products that complement and enhance their living environments. Gone forever is the complacent view that consumers should have to accept mass produced gray boxes in the center of their living rooms, bedrooms and offices. We believe this landmark launch will change the TV market in the United States forever.”
Hannspree’s televisions come in three themed product lines: Style, Fantasy and Sports:
Style
Inspired by fashion and home-life, the Style line allows people to express their creativity, their love of contemporary design and their aesthetic ideals. For example, some products pay homage to the musical arts, while others boldly represent a love of flowers or photography.
Fantasy
The Fantasy collection offers playful designs for the entire family. A soft, teddy bear-shaped TV gives children a tactile, adorable and safe product to both watch and touch, for example. Appropriately textured TVs that take the form of giraffes, elephants, sheep and dogs provide equally loveable fixtures, while some of cinema’s best known characters turn out to be better suited to the small screen than anyone would have dared guess.
Sports
The Sports line manifests individual passions: an evocative, sailing-themed TV featuring a curved design and a stand that mimics a hoisted sail, for example; or a spherical, soccer ball-shaped TV made from genuine leather. Fans of baseball and basketball will find TVs that reflect their love of these sports in general, and the unbreakable bond they have with their favorite team: every MLB and NBA team has given their logo and colors to one or more TV design in Hannspree’s Sports line. Other sets are inspired by football, golf, hiking and car racing, to name just a few.
Availability and pricing
Hannspree televisions will be available from Hannspree-owned and operated retail galleries in Beverly Hills, California(a) (July) and San Francisco(b) (September). The company is also in negotiations with leading national and regional retailers and expects to announce details of additional distribution agreements in the coming months. Products will also be available for purchase online at http://www.hannspree.com in early October. Hannspree televisions will retail from $449.99 to $1399.99 M.S.R.P.
About Hannspree
Hannspree was founded in 2002 to shake-up the consumer electronics industry with a bold new approach to television design and manufacturing. Applying state-of-the-art engineering techniques to visionary design concepts, Hannspree is responsible for creating an entirely new category of design-driven, lifestyle-inspired televisions. The company, which employs 900 people worldwide, is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan and maintains U.S. sales and marketing offices in San Francisco and New Jersey. With NT$5.3 billion (approx. US$170 million) in investment capital and the backing of display technology pioneer HannStar, which has 20 percent stake in the company, Hannspree is executing an aggressive 2005 business plan for Asia and North America.
Hannspree on the Net: http://www.hannspree.com
(a) Beverly Hills store location: 420 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills CA 90210
(b) San Francisco store location: 400 Sutter Street, San Francisco CA 94108
