VIZIO Founder and CEO William Wang (center) with his family.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced that William Wang, VIZIO Founder & CEO, will receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at the 75th Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards.
Wang is being recognized for his contributions in revolutionizing the television industry, making high-quality, innovative TVs and soundbars accessible to millions of American households. His visionary approach to combining cutting-edge technology with affordability has reshaped the way consumers experience entertainment, leaving a lasting impact on the industry and redefining the standards of home entertainment. The awards presentation will take place on Wednesday, October 9, at the Prince George Ballroom in New York.
Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS, said: "William Wang has spent decades contributing enormously to the television industry, bringing affordable innovation into millions of homes across the U.S. We are honored to pay tribute to this pioneering executive.”
"I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award,” said William Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of VIZIO. “My life has been dedicated to bringing great technology to consumers in America. This recognition is also a testament to the incredible team at VIZIO - it is our lifetime achievement. Together, we’ve challenged the status quo and have created new possibilities for the future of television. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for the journey ahead as we continue to push the boundaries of technology and entertainment."
About William Wang:
Entrepreneur, inventor and executive, William Wang, is best known for pioneering the world’s first internet-connected TV and creating VIZIO, a leading TV and soundbar maker in the United States. Since VIZIO's inception in 2002, Wang has served as Founder, CEO and Chairman of VIZIO, steering the company to the forefront of the Smart TV revolution. Under his leadership, VIZIO has brought premium-quality, innovative TVs and soundbars into millions of American homes at affordable prices.
William Wang is a shining example of the American dream in action. Born in Taiwan, Wang moved to the U.S. at age 12 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. In 1990, he entered the booming computer hardware market, founding MAG InnoVision and acquiring Princeton Graphic Systems. By 1998, as the internet era accelerated, Wang helped develop the world’s first smart TV with apps, named Channel 1 (CH1).
In 2002, after noticing legacy consumer electronics brands would not accelerate the adoption of digital TV in the U.S., he mortgaged his house to start VIZIO, Inc., with the first products hitting U.S. retail shelves in the second quarter of 2003.
A plane crash and business crash survivor, Wang’s perseverance led to the introduction of the first line of HDTVs at Costco at one-third of the price of competitors. Within two years, VIZIO was a top-selling HDTV in America. VIZIO later introduced a smart TV and was among the first to offer the ability to stream Netflix and YouTube on an internet-connected TV. In 2010, VIZIO introduced a new line of soundbars — and in 2016 became the number one selling soundbar brand in America with popularity driven by a combination of affordability, high-quality audio and ease of use.
In 2016, Wang deployed Automated Content Recognition technologies under the Inscape brand, which brought unprecedented transparency and innovation to the TV marketplace and helped power better experiences for viewers. VIZIO also launched SmartCast in 2016, a smart TV operating system, allowing streaming content from various apps and services. Three years later, VIZIO Ads successfully transformed the hardware company into an integrated platform where software and hardware work together to form the ultimate viewing experience.
His success seemingly knows no bounds. Wang took VIZIO public in 2021, and in early 2024 Walmart and VIZIO announced they have entered into an agreement for Walmart to acquire VIZIO. The Lifetime Achievement award marks the third Emmy that Wang has accepted from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Wang has applied relentless commitment to creating value for consumers and turned VIZIO into a trusted household name.