Latest news with #VIZIO
Geek Vibes Nation
3 days ago
- Sport
- Geek Vibes Nation
The Women's Cup Soccer Tournament Live Exclusively On VIZIO WatchFree+ For 2nd Consecutive Year (EXCLUSIVE)
Soccer-Themed Pop-Up Channel Kicked Off July 16 with Live Games Beginning July 19 VIZIO is thrilled to announce that its free streaming service, WatchFree+, will be the exclusive U.S. home for The Women's Cup 2025. This marks the second consecutive year that WatchFree+ has exclusively hosted this prestigious women's international soccer tournament for U.S. audiences. VIZIO TV owners, as well as anyone with the VIZIO mobile app, can stream the tournament live on channel 1301. The Women's Cup 2025 will feature two exciting tournaments: one in São Paulo, Brazil (July 19–24) and another in Milan, Italy (August 14–17). Top teams, including Racing Louisville, Palmeiras, São Paulo FC, Pachuca, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atlético de Madrid, and Como FC, will compete in these thrilling international showdowns. A Premier Women's Soccer Event Since its inception in 2021, The Women's Cup has been a cornerstone of elite international women's club soccer, showcasing high-profile matches with top global clubs such as Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, AC Milan, Tokio Verdi, River Plate, and Club América. As the pre-eminent women's soccer invitational tournament, it brings together the best clubs from around the world. Eight games will be broadcast from July 19 to August 17, exclusively on WatchFree+ (channel 1301). In addition to live matches, the free streaming channel will offer previous matchups, game highlights, player profiles, interviews, and more, ensuring fans have plenty of exciting content to enjoy as anticipation builds for the live games. How to Watch VIZIO TV owners can access The Women's Cup Channel and live matches by opening the WatchFree+ app on their TV and navigating to channel 1301. The channel is also available through the VIZIO mobile app, accessible to anyone, even without a VIZIO TV. To watch, download the free VIZIO mobile app, create a free VIZIO account, click the Live TV button in the bottom menu, and tune in to channel 1301. The Women's Cup São Paulo, Brazil Tournament Schedule Semifinal #1: July 19, 5:00 PM ET – São Paulo FC (Brazil Série A1) vs. Racing Louisville (NWSL, USA) July 19, 5:00 PM ET – São Paulo FC (Brazil Série A1) vs. Racing Louisville (NWSL, USA) Semifinal #2: July 20, 5:00 PM ET – Palmeiras (Brazil Série A1) vs. Pachuca (Liga MX, Mexico) July 20, 5:00 PM ET – Palmeiras (Brazil Série A1) vs. Pachuca (Liga MX, Mexico) Third Place Match: July 24, 4:00 PM ET – Loser Semifinal #1 vs. Loser Semifinal #2 July 24, 4:00 PM ET – Loser Semifinal #1 vs. Loser Semifinal #2 Championship Match: July 24, 7:00 PM ET – Winner Semifinal #1 vs. Winner Semifinal #2 The Women's Cup Milan, Italy Tournament Schedule Semifinal #1: August 14, 11:00 AM ET – Como FC (Serie A, Italy) vs. Juventus (Serie A, Italy) August 14, 11:00 AM ET – Como FC (Serie A, Italy) vs. Juventus (Serie A, Italy) Semifinal #2: August 14, 2:00 PM ET – Inter Milan (Serie A, Italy) vs. Atlético de Madrid (Liga F, Spain) August 14, 2:00 PM ET – Inter Milan (Serie A, Italy) vs. Atlético de Madrid (Liga F, Spain) Third Place Match: August 17, 11:00 AM ET – Loser Semifinal #1 vs. Loser Semifinal #2 August 17, 11:00 AM ET – Loser Semifinal #1 vs. Loser Semifinal #2 Championship Match: August 17, 2:00 PM ET – Winner Semifinal #1 vs. Winner Semifinal #2 Celebrating Global Talent The Women's Cup will showcase eight top women's club soccer teams from the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, and Spain, featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. Don't miss the action as these talented teams compete for glory on the global stage. Tune in to WatchFree+ on channel 1301 starting July 16 for exclusive coverage of The Women's Cup 2025, and experience the passion and excitement of women's soccer like never before!
Business Wire
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Omdia: Vizio CastOS and Amazon FireTV Gain Strong Momentum in North American TV Operating System
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New data from Omdia has revealed notable momentum for two key TV operating system platforms in the North American TV Sets market during 1Q25. Vizio CastOS showed significant growth shipping 1.2 million units, an increase of 40.4% year-over-year (YoY). In parallel, Amazon FireTV sets increased by 21.5% year YoY to reach 1.2 million units. Overall North American TV set shipments reached 9.8 million units, representing a modest 0.55% YoY growth. Globally, TV set shipments increased by 2.4% YoY to 47.5 million units, with Latin America showing the fastest growth rate (up 9.17% YoY), followed by China (up 3.25% YoY). According to Omdia's latest TV Design and Features Tracker - Forecast - 1Q25, the competition in the TV market is increasingly focused not only on hardware features but also the battle between operating system platforms. The North American market is uniquely positioned, with major retailers now actively investing in owning and controlling TV operating systems. Companies such as Amazon and Walmart view TV OS platforms as strategic tools to deliver targeted advertising directly into consumers' living rooms, driving further ecommerce sales on their respective platforms. Walmart made headlines with its acquisition of Vizio, announced in February 2024, and finalized in December of that year. Following the acquisition, Walmart has aggressively expanded sales of Vizio TVs with the company recently announcing their intention to introduce the VIZIO operating system on Walmart's onn TVs. Omdia forecasts Vizio CastOS to grow by 25.8% YoY for the full year of 2025, reaching 6.0 million units, up from 4.8 million in 2024. Patrick Horner, Practice Leader, TV Set Research at Omdia commented, 'We forecast that Vizio CastOS will reach a 12.0% unit share of the North American market by the end of 2025, up from 9.7% in 2024. During the same period of 2025 Amazon FireTV is projected to maintain a slight edge above Vizio CastOS with a 12.6% market share, rising from 12.3% in 2024.' In the first quarter of 2025, the average selling price of Vizio TVs declined 9.6% to $227, compared to $251 in 1Q24. In contrast, the overall selling price for TVs in North America increased by 2.0% over the same period, from $401 in 1Q24 to $409 in 1Q25. With 29% of US TV consumers ranking price as the most important factor when purchasing a TV, Walmart's well-established value-driven strategy is effectively leveraging price leadership to expand Vizio CastOS' unit share. Horner added, 'Retailer owned TV brands are beginning to challenge traditional TV manufacturers in the value-priced $200-300 segment. Walmart's Onn brand and Vizio TV have increasingly competitive pricing, putting pressure on established market players. Meanwhile, Chinese TV set manufacturers such as TCL and Hisense are strategically shifting their focus toward more premium segments priced at $1,000 and above. They are ramping up mass production of extra-large LCD TV sets, supported by advanced technologies like Mini-LED backlights and quantum dots to deliver enhanced picture quality.' Omdia, part of Informa TechTarget, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a leading technology research and advisory group. With deep expertise in technology markets, grounded in insightful conversations with industry leaders and supported by hundreds of thousands of data points, Omdia's strategic market intelligence is our clients' competitive advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the most promising opportunities to drive the industry forward.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can Walmart's High-Margin Verticals Sustain Its Retail Edge?
Walmart Inc. WMT is redefining its growth strategy by focusing on high-margin revenue streams — specifically advertising, memberships and marketplace expansion. This strategic pivot is strengthening the company's profitability and reinforcing its dominant position in the global retail the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported significant progress driven by a more profitable business mix. The company's advertising revenues surged 50% year over year, thanks in part to its December 2024 acquisition of VIZIO. By integrating VIZIO's SmartCast Operating System, Walmart Connect gained advanced capabilities to deliver personalized, scalable advertising solutions. Walmart Connect's U.S. operations grew 31%, while Sam's Club advertising climbed 21%. On the international front, ad revenues jumped 20%, led by a robust performance from income was another key growth engine. Total membership revenues increased roughly 15% year over year. Sam's Club U.S. recorded strong growth in new members, higher renewal rates and an uptick in Plus memberships, resulting in a 9.6% rise in membership income. Walmart+ posted double-digit growth, while Sam's Club China saw membership income rally over 40% amid growing is also expanding its third high-margin vertical: marketplace and store-fulfilled delivery. This integrated, omnichannel ecosystem enhances operational efficiency while elevating customer accelerating growth in advertising, memberships and marketplace services, Walmart is positioning itself for long-term earnings growth and stronger shareholder value in today's fast-evolving retail landscape. As Walmart intensifies its focus on high-margin businesses, rivals like The Kroger Co. KR and Target TGT are also investing in alternative revenue streams to boost is strengthening its profitability through high-margin alternative profit businesses, particularly retail media and health & wellness services. In fiscal 2024, these segments delivered $1.35 billion in operating profit, fueled by a robust 17% year-over-year increase in retail media revenues. Kroger Precision Marketing continues to gain traction, with rising commitments from advertising agencies underscoring its growing influence as a key profit is accelerating its shift toward high-margin, non-merchandise revenue streams by scaling digital advertising and marketplace services. Roundel, Target's retail ad business, continues to benefit by driving higher engagement, performance and campaign success. Meanwhile, Target Plus — the company's third-party digital marketplace — also delivered double-digit growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Shares of Walmart have rallied 42.6% in one year compared with the industry's growth of 40.8%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.43X, above the industry's average of 33.12X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WMT's fiscal 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 3.6%, whereas its fiscal 2027 earnings estimate suggests a year-over-year uptick of 11.7%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research WMT stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Kroger Co. (KR) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Geek Vibes Nation
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Shark-Filled Summer Fun On VIZIO WatchFree+
Summer just got a whole lot wilder with VIZIO WatchFree+! They're splashing into the season with a jaw-dropping lineup of shark movies that are equal parts thrilling and hilariously over-the-top. Starting July 3rd, tune into the Shark Attack pop-up channel #598 for a free binge-fest of these campy classics. No subscription needed—just a VIZIO TV or the VIZIO mobile app and a free VIZIO Account to dive in! Sharknado: The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure Sharknado Streaming: July 1st Imagine a hurricane hitting LA, but instead of just rain, it's raining sharks. Yup, thousands of them are tearing through the city by sea, land, and air. It's pure chaos and peak shark madness. Starring: Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), Tara Reid (American Pie), John Heard (Home Alone) Sharknado 2: The Second One Streaming: July 1st Fin and April head to NYC, but a mega-hurricane unleashes shark-filled storms that make the Big Apple a buffet for these toothy terrors. Bigger, crazier, and somehow even sharkier. Starring: Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), Tara Reid (American Pie), Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day) Bull Shark Bonanza Bull Shark Streaming: July 1st A small Texas town's peaceful lake turns into a nightmare when a hungry bull shark starts snacking on swimmers. Small town, big problem. Starring: Thom Hallum (Copper Bill), Billy Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Lindsey Marie Wilson (America is Sinking) Bull Shark 2 Streaming: July 1st The terror continues as another bull shark crashes the party, chomping through more unlucky locals in that same Texas lake. The stakes are higher, and so are the bites. Starring: Thom Hallum (Copper Bill), Billy Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Andrea Cohen (Black Box) Bull Shark 3 Streaming: July 1st The epic finale pits a whole family of bull sharks against a tiny lake community. It's an all-out battle for survival in this Texas-sized showdown. Starring: Thom Hallum (Copper Bill), Billy Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Chad Ridgely (The Wire) Open Water: Stranded and Scared Open Water Streaming: July 1st Based on a chilling true story, two scuba divers are left behind in shark-infested waters when their tour boat bails. It's raw, tense, and way too real. Starring: Blanchard Ryan (Beer Fest), Daniel Travis (Pretty Little Liars), Saul Stein (Money Train) Open Water 2: Adrift Streaming: July 1st A group of friends forgets to lower their boat's ladder, leaving them stranded in open water. Spoiler: the sharks are circling, and survival's not looking good. Starring: Susan May Pratt (10 Things I Hate About You), Richard Speight Jr. (Supernatural), Ali Hillis (Must Love Dogs) Open Water 3: Cage Dive Streaming: July 1st Three friends filming a reality show audition get more than they bargained for when they're trapped in shark-filled waters. Their footage becomes a horrifying last testament. Starring: Joel Hogan (Chameleon), Chris Bath (All Saints), Megan Peta Hill (The Flash) Multi-Headed Shark Mayhem 2 Headed Shark Attack Streaming: July 1st A two-headed shark sinks a study-abroad ship, forcing survivors to flee to an atoll. But when the island starts flooding, those twin jaws are the least of their worries. Starring: Carmen Electra (Scary Movie), Charlie O'Connell (Dude, Where's My Car?), Brooke Hogan (GLOW) 3 Headed Shark Attack Streaming: July 1st A three-headed great white chows down on a ship from end to end. The passengers grab anything they can to fight back, but this beast is next-level hungry. Starring: Karrueche Tran (The Bay), Jaason Simmons (Baywatch), Rob Van Dam (Wrong Side of Town) 5 Headed Shark Attack Streaming: July 1st A five-headed shark that looks like a mutant starfish wreaks havoc from the open sea to Puerto Rico's beaches. Paradise? More like a shark buffet. See also The White Lotus Season 3 Finale Breaks Viewing Records Starring: Chris Bruno (The Dead Zone), Nikki Howard (Love Virtually), Lindsay Sawyer (Sinister Squad) Even More Shark Shenanigans Red Water Streaming: July 1st Oil rig workers are already dealing with gangsters holding them hostage when a freshwater bull shark decides to join the chaos. Talk about a bad day. Starring: Lou Diamond Phillips (Young Guns), Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Coolio (Daredevil) Megalodon Rising Streaming: July 1st The ultimate sea monster, a megalodon, resurfaces and takes on a fleet of modern warships. Spoiler: the ships don't stand a chance. Starring: Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Wynter Eddins (Motel California), O'Shay Neal (Snowfall) Megalodon: The Frenzy Streaming: July 1st Five megalodons turn the ocean into a feeding frenzy. It's high-stakes, high-chomp action from start to finish. Starring: Caroline Williams (Renfield), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Jessica Chancellor (Mystery Incorporated) Planet of the Sharks Streaming: July 1st In a future where Earth is mostly underwater, sharks rule the planet, led by a mutant alpha. Humans? They're just lunch. Starring: Brandon Auret (District 9), Stephanie Beran (Big Kill), Christia Visser (Last Ones Out) Empire of the Sharks Streaming: July 1st In a waterlogged future, a warlord with a shark army kidnaps the wrong girl—the daughter of a shark caller who's about to flip the script. Starring: John Savage (The Last Full Measure), Jack Armstrong (Patterns), Thandi Sebe (Viva Forever) Tsunami Sharks Streaming: July 1st A tsunami floods a city, and guess who swims in with the tide? Sharks, ready to make the streets their new hunting ground. Starring: Anna Albie (Varsity Punks), Mark Denham (Ghosted), Robin Kirwan (Scorched Earth) Swamp Shark Streaming: July 1st A botched animal smuggling deal lets a massive shark loose in a swampy river, turning the backwoods into a danger zone. Starring: Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), D.B. Sweeney (Eight Men Out), Jason Rogel (NCIS) Ice Sharks Streaming: July 1st Arctic scientists face off against sharks that have invaded icy waters. It's a freezing fight for survival in the far north. Starring: Edward DeRuiter (Mega Shark Vs. Kolossus), Jenna Parker (Diablo Canyon), Kaiwi Lyman (Den of Thieves) Shark Lake Streaming: July 1st A sheriff takes on a rogue shark and an exotic animal smuggler, determined to clean up her town's lake once and for all. Starring: Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), Sara Malakul Lane (King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table), Lily Brooks O'Briant (The Young and the Restless) Mountain Shark Streaming: July 1st Hunters sent to a mountain weapons base uncover a deadly secret: the hills are crawling with sharks, and they're not here to play. Starring: Ema Ekaete (Tell No Lies), Emily Felicia Moore (Snap Shot), Julia Quayle (Beneath the Surface) Santa Jaws Streaming: July 1st A kid's Christmas wish to be alone goes horribly wrong when a shark shows up and wreaks havoc on his family. Ho ho… oh no! Starring: Reid Miller (Accused), Courtney Lauren Cummings (The Sex Lives of College Girls), Jim Klock (The Underground Railroad) Mississippi River Shark Streaming: July 1st Sharks invade the Mississippi River, turning a lazy river into a deadly trap for anyone nearby. Starring: Cassie Steele (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Jason London (Dazed and Confused), Miles Doleac (The Dinner Party)
Globe and Mail
09-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Walmart's Push Into High-Margin Ventures: A Blueprint for Growth?
Walmart Inc. WMT is reshaping its growth strategy by doubling down on high-margin revenue streams — namely, advertising, memberships and marketplace expansion. This strategic shift is boosting profitability and reinforcing the company's leadership in the global retail landscape. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Walmart saw meaningful gains from its evolving business mix. Higher-margin categories like advertising and memberships were major contributors to profitability. The company's advertising revenues rallied 50% year over year, fueled in part by its December 2024 acquisition of VIZIO. This move brought VIZIO's SmartCast Operating System under the Walmart umbrella, enhancing Walmart Connect's ability to deliver personalized, scalable advertising solutions. Walmart Connect posted 31% growth in the United States, while Sam's Club advertising grew 21%. Internationally, ad revenues rose 20%, led by strong performance from Flipkart. Membership income also played a vital role. Overall membership fees rose nearly 15% year over year in the fiscal first quarter. Sam's Club U.S. saw solid gains in member growth, renewal rates and an increase in Plus memberships, driving a 9.6% rise in membership income. Walmart+ delivered double-digit income growth, while Sam's Club China membership income soared over 40%, driven by rising member adoption. Walmart is also scaling its third major growth pillar: marketplace and store-fulfilled delivery. This integrated ecosystem enhances operational efficiency and supports omnichannel retail engagement. By expanding these high-margin verticals, Walmart is positioning itself for sustainable earnings growth and improved shareholder value in a rapidly evolving retail environment. How WMT's Competitors Are Building New Profit Engines Some of WMT's competitors in the retail space are The Kroger Co. KR and Target TGT. The Kroger Co.'s alternative profit businesses, including retail media and health & wellness, continue to contribute to profitability. These businesses generated $1.35 billion in operating profit in fiscal 2024, supported by a 17% increase in retail media revenues. Kroger Precision Marketing ('KPM') is expanding rapidly, with increasing commitments from agencies, reinforcing its position as a high-margin growth driver. As digital engagement grows, Kroger remains focused on leveraging data-driven insights to enhance advertising effectiveness and drive sustained profitability in this segment. Target is accelerating its shift toward high-margin, non-merchandise revenue streams by scaling digital advertising and marketplace services. Roundel, Target's retail ad business, continues to benefit by driving higher engagement, performance and campaign success. Meanwhile, Target Plus — the company's third-party digital marketplace — also delivered double-digit growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. WMT's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of Walmart have gained 7.9% year to date compared with the industry 's growth of 8.1%. From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.09X, above the industry's average of 33.08X. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WMT's fiscal 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 3.2%, whereas its fiscal 2027 earnings estimate suggests a year-over-year uptick of 11.6%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research WMT stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock It's only 1/9,000th the size of NVIDIA which skyrocketed more than +800% since we recommended it. NVIDIA is still strong, but our new top chip stock has much more room to boom. With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $803 billion by 2028. See This Stock Now for Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report Walmart Inc. (WMT): Free Stock Analysis Report The Kroger Co. (KR): Free Stock Analysis Report
