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Why Did Zenith TVs Disappear? Here's What Happened To The Iconic American Brand
SlashGear • • technology
Key Points:
- Zenith, originally founded as Chicago Radio Laboratory in 1918, was a pioneering electronics brand known for inventing the television remote control, including the first wireless version called "Space Command" in 1956.
- The company played a significant role in advancing television technology, contributing to early HD broadcasting infrastructure in 1988 and facilitating the transition from analog to digital TV signals by 2009.
- In 1999, Zenith became a wholly-owned subsidiary of LG Electronics and ceased producing consumer televisions, shifting its focus to digital TV signal encryption technology called Pro:Idiom.
- Today, Zenith's encryption technology is primarily used in hotel televisions, enabling secure digital content delivery in hospitality environments.
- Although no longer a household name for TVs, Zenith continues to operate under LG, contributing to the behind-the-scenes technology of modern digital broadcasting.
