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Thursday, Apr 18, 2024

Now, Watch Bad TV Anywhere

SunBriteTV builds a television set that delivers a great picture with great sound. Oh, and it can be kept outside year round – in rain, snow, heat and dust. The Thousand Oaks manufacturer produces high-definition televisions ranging from a 32-inch screen model with a $1,495 price tag to a 65-inch screen costing $7,695, all designed to be watched on a deck, patio or balcony. “Some of our largest markets are where they experience the harshest climates,” Chief Executive Cameron Hill said. The company has made its televisions since 2004 in a Conejo Valley factory staffed by more than 30 workers. All parts are sourced from U.S. suppliers with the exception of the glass panel that comes from Asia. The logic boards, speakers and speaker boxes are all custom-made. The sets are full 1080p resolution and an optional wireless receiver can connect the set with game consoles, set-top boxes, or DVRs. Later this year, the company will offer a weatherproof housing for streaming media players. Jonathan Johnson, director of brand marketing, said its Signature series sets are made from powder-coated aluminum that can be manipulated into different screen sizes and acts as a passive heat exchanger, eliminating the need for vents that could let moisture, dirt, or bugs inside. They also can withstand temperatures from minus 24 degrees to 122 degrees, while a proprietary gasket material creates a waterproof seal around cables. Other features are extra bright panels for viewing under direct sunlight and speaker cones made from polypropylene that can’t be damaged by moisture. “We have had them survive hurricanes and polar vortex snow conditions,” Johnson said. SunBriteTV sells its sets through national chain Best Buy, regional East Coast chain P.C. Richard & Son, and independent home electronics dealers. The company, owned by Boston private equity firm Bunker Hill Capital LP, will not disclose its revenue, but Hill said about 8,000 sets were sold last year. U.S. sales are the bulk of its business, but SunBriteTV has exported sets to Canada, Mexico and Australia. “We are looking to sell in South America and Europe this year,” Hill said. — Mark R. Madler

Mark Madler
Mark Madler
Mark R. Madler covers aviation & aerospace, manufacturing, technology, automotive & transportation, media & entertainment and the Antelope Valley. He joined the company in February 2006. Madler previously worked as a reporter for the Burbank Leader. Before that, he was a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago and several daily newspapers in the suburban Chicago area. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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