Who Owns Vizio TV? | Retail Giant Behind The Screens

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Vizio TV is owned by Walmart, which completed its acquisition of Vizio in 2024 and now runs the television brand as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Turn on a Vizio TV today and you are not just using a budget-friendly screen. You are using hardware and software that now sit inside Walmart’s wider retail and advertising machine. For buyers, that raises simple questions: who owns Vizio TV, what changed after the buyout, and does that ownership shift matter for picture quality, app support, and long-term service?

This article walks through who owns Vizio now, how the ownership changed over time, and what that means for anyone shopping for a new Vizio TV or living room upgrade.

Who Owns Vizio TV Today?

The short version is clear: Vizio is now a subsidiary of Walmart Inc. In February 2024, Walmart and Vizio signed a deal for Walmart to buy all outstanding shares of Vizio Holding Corp. for cash. The transaction closed in December 2024, turning Vizio into a wholly owned unit inside Walmart’s portfolio of brands.

Under the merger terms filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a Walmart subsidiary merged into Vizio, and Vizio survived that merger as a direct subsidiary of Walmart. Vizio shares stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and public shareholders were paid out in cash. From that point on, there has been no separate public Vizio stock for everyday investors to buy.

So when people ask “Who owns Vizio TV?” in 2026, the accurate answer is that Walmart owns the Vizio brand, the SmartCast TV software platform, and the related advertising and data business that sit behind many Vizio smart TVs.

Who Owns Vizio TV Brand Today And How It Got There

To understand why Walmart now owns Vizio TV, it helps to track the brand’s path from a small California operation to a mass-market name on big retail shelves. Vizio has changed hands less often than some rivals, but the structure behind the logo has shifted over the past two decades.

Early Years As An Independent U.S. TV Brand

Vizio started in 2002 under the name V Inc., founded by William Wang and a small team in California. The company grew by pairing flat-panel TVs with aggressive price points and heavy big-box retail placement, turning up on shelves at chains that wanted a lower-priced alternative to long-established TV giants. Within a few years, Vizio had become one of the biggest sellers of flat-panel TVs in North America by unit volume.

Behind the scenes, Vizio did not own its own factories. It worked with contract manufacturers in countries such as Mexico, China, and Vietnam to produce panels and final units, while the U.S. headquarters handled product planning, software, and branding. That model kept costs low while still allowing the brand to push regular hardware refreshes and new screen sizes.

From Private Company To Public Listing

For many years, Vizio stayed privately held, with ownership concentrated around its founder, early employees, and investment partners. That changed when Vizio Holding Corp. went public in 2021. The initial public offering moved a portion of the company’s shares onto the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker VZIO, with the rest held by insiders and large institutions.

Once listed, Vizio had a mix of owners: founder William Wang with a large stake, institutional funds, and smaller retail investors who bought common stock. Board members reported to public shareholders, and the company filed annual and quarterly reports like any other listed U.S. corporation.

The Failed LeEco Deal And Why It Matters

Ownership could have changed earlier. In 2016, Chinese electronics firm LeEco agreed to buy Vizio in a multibillion-dollar cash deal. That transaction later collapsed when Chinese regulators clamped down on overseas deals, and Vizio followed up with legal action over the breakup fee. The two firms reached a settlement, and Vizio stayed independent.

That failed sale is more than trivia. It showed that Vizio’s platform and ad-driven TV business had value that larger players wanted. Years later, Walmart picked up that thread with a deal that actually closed.

Why Walmart Bought Vizio

In early 2024, Walmart announced an agreement to buy Vizio. The press release spelled out the main reasons: Walmart wanted Vizio’s SmartCast operating system, its installed base of connected TVs, and its growing advertising business that sells on-screen ad slots and data-driven campaigns to marketers.

Vizio’s screens were already a familiar sight at Walmart stores. By buying the company outright, Walmart gained control over the software stack, the ad inventory on those screens, and the data pipes linked to user viewing behavior. In retail media, that combination of screen, store, and ad placement is exactly what chains are chasing, and Vizio gave Walmart a ready-made platform.

Timeline Of Who Owned Vizio TV

To clear up confusion, here is a simple ownership timeline for the Vizio TV brand and its parent company:

Year / Period Owner / Status What Changed For TV Buyers
2002–2015 Private company led by founder and early investors Brand grows in U.S. stores with low-priced LCD and plasma sets
2016–2017 Planned sale to LeEco (deal later canceled) No long-term change; Vizio TVs stay under the Vizio corporate banner
2021–2024 Vizio Holding Corp. as a public company (NYSE: VZIO) Mixed ownership: founder, funds, and public shareholders
Dec 2024 onward Vizio as a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Ownership shifts to Walmart; shares delist; TVs tie deeper into Walmart’s retail and ad business

If your Vizio TV is new or was bought after the end of 2024, you can think of it as a Walmart-owned product line that still keeps the Vizio name on the badge, at least for now.

What Walmart’s Ownership Means For Vizio TV Buyers

Ownership changes do not instantly rewrite how a TV behaves in your living room. Still, Walmart’s control over Vizio shapes where you can buy these sets, what apps and services show up on screen, and how the data behind your viewing gets used.

Where You Can Buy Vizio TVs Now

Walmart has moved toward making Vizio largely tied to its own retail channels. Reports point to plans for Vizio to sit alongside or inside Walmart’s own house brands, with stronger ties between Vizio’s SmartCast platform and Walmart’s in-store Onn TV line. That means:

  • Expect Walmart And Sam’s Club Priority — Vizio TVs and soundbars are more likely to appear in Walmart and Sam’s Club than in rival chains.
  • Watch For Store-Brand Blending — Branding on future screens may blur between Vizio and Walmart’s Onn line as Walmart lines up its TV shelf under a unified plan.
  • Check Retailer Listings Carefully — If you try to buy a new Vizio TV through non-Walmart channels, stock may be limited or phased out in favor of new deals tied to Walmart.

SmartCast, Ads, And Data Under Walmart

Vizio’s SmartCast operating system is the real prize. SmartCast runs the home screen, app rows, and on-screen ad placements. Under Walmart, that platform feeds Walmart Connect, the company’s ad sales arm that sells campaigns across stores, websites, and now connected TVs.

  • Expect More Walmart-Linked Content — Tiles and banners on the SmartCast home screen may feature Walmart-backed offers, house brands, and partner campaigns.
  • Review Privacy Settings — Vizio’s history includes legal action over how viewing data was collected before a 2017 settlement with U.S. regulators. After that case, Vizio moved to clearer on-screen consent prompts. Under Walmart, spend a moment inside the TV’s privacy and data menus to make sure options match your comfort level.
  • Keep An Eye On App Support — Walmart has an incentive to keep major streaming apps running smoothly on Vizio sets, since active viewers mean more chances to sell ad space.

Pricing, Warranty, And Service Impact

Vizio built its name on lower prices than many rivals, and Walmart is known for squeezing costs out of supply chains. That combination can help keep price tags down, but it can also lead to tighter hardware margins where much of the money comes from ads and data instead of thick profit on each TV.

  • Expect Aggressive Price Points — Vizio sets on Walmart shelves often line up with value-oriented pricing that undercuts fancier brands with similar screen sizes.
  • Check Warranty Terms — Warranty length and service channels still come from Vizio as a corporate entity, but Walmart’s ownership can change how service centers and parts pipelines work behind the scenes. Always read the warranty card on the actual model you buy, since terms can differ by country or by panel line.
  • Use Retailer Service Options — In some regions, Walmart or Sam’s Club offers extended service plans or swap programs for TVs. If you care about hassle-free replacement, compare those store options against the base Vizio warranty.

Who Actually Makes Vizio TVs And Panels?

Ownership of the Vizio brand and the factory that builds your TV are not the same thing. Vizio has long used original design manufacturers (ODMs) in countries such as Mexico, China, and Vietnam to assemble TVs and source LCD or OLED panels. The company focuses on product planning, software, and relationships with retailers, while partner factories stamp out the hardware.

That means a Vizio TV often shares components with sets sold under other labels. A panel might come from a supplier like LG Display or AUO, while the main board and casing follow a design that Vizio and a contract partner created together.

Walmart’s ownership does not change this basic model. The retailer does not build TVs on its own assembly lines. Instead, Walmart negotiates with many of the same factories Vizio already used, then adds its weight to secure volume, pricing, and shipping terms.

  • Panel Source Can Vary — Even within one Vizio series, different screen sizes might use panels from different manufacturers.
  • Check Model-Specific Reviews — Because internals can change over time, picture quality can differ between a 50-inch and 65-inch version in the same family. Look for reviews tied to the exact model number printed on the box.
  • Firmware Matters As Much As Hardware — SmartCast firmware updates tweak motion handling, app stability, and HDMI features. Under Walmart, that code still comes from Vizio’s software teams, not from individual factories.

Who Runs Vizio Day To Day Under Walmart?

Ownership and daily management are related but not identical. While Walmart now owns Vizio, the company still has its own executive team leading product lines, software, and sales. Founder William Wang remains chief executive officer and board chair of Vizio Holding Corp., now nested under Walmart’s corporate structure.

Inside Walmart, Vizio links tightly with the Walmart Connect ad group and with buyers who manage store shelves for TVs and home theater gear. That integration lets Walmart line up ad campaigns that stretch from a shopper’s phone to the living room TV, using SmartCast as one more screen in the chain.

For end users, this setup means your TV feels like a Vizio product day to day, even though legal ownership sits with Walmart. The logo on the bezel has not changed, and software menus still carry Vizio branding.

How Vizio Fits Into Walmart’s TV Strategy

Walmart already sold its own Onn-branded TVs before the deal. Adding Vizio gives the retailer a more established smart-TV software platform, stronger name recognition in electronics, and a larger pool of connected screens for ad sales. Longer term, you can expect tighter alignment between Vizio SmartCast, Walmart’s house brands, and the ad campaigns that appear on your home screen.

  • Onn And Vizio Side By Side — In some stores, you may see Vizio sets and Onn sets sharing shelf space, with different price levels aimed at different shoppers.
  • Shared Software Pieces — Walmart has already signaled that it plans to blend SmartCast features into its own brands, which can make the TV lineup feel more uniform.
  • Stronger Retail Media Tie-Ins — Ads on Vizio home screens can point to deals on Walmart.com or in local stores, turning the TV into another route into Walmart’s retail system.

Practical Takeaways If You Own Or Plan To Buy A Vizio TV

Ownership details can sound abstract, so it helps to turn them into concrete steps. If you already have a Vizio TV or you are thinking about one, a few habits will help you get the best value from a Walmart-owned Vizio set.

  • Check The Model Year Before You Buy — Vizio refreshes its line regularly. Match the model number on the box to current-year reviews, since older panels may remain on shelves at discount prices.
  • Review Privacy Prompts Carefully — When you first set up SmartCast, read any data-sharing prompts line by line. You can usually limit viewing data collection in the settings if you prefer a quieter profile.
  • Use Multiple HDMI Sources — If SmartCast feels slow on a lower-end model, plug in a streaming stick from Roku, Google, or Amazon. That keeps your viewing flexible, no matter how Walmart chooses to shape the SmartCast ad experience over time.
  • Save Your Receipt And Warranty Card — Keep a clear record of where and when you bought your TV. That helps if you ever need service through Vizio or through Walmart’s store programs.
  • Watch For Software Updates — Vizio pushes firmware updates that can fix bugs, add new apps, or improve HDMI features. Leave automatic updates on, or schedule regular manual checks inside the TV’s settings menu.

When you pull all of this together, the picture looks like this: Vizio is no longer an independent public company with a broad mix of shareholders. It is a Walmart-owned brand, built by contract factories, steered by its original leadership, and woven tightly into Walmart’s retail and advertising goals. If you buy a Vizio TV today, you are buying into that structure—still with familiar Vizio styling on the outside, but with Walmart sitting firmly at the top of the ownership stack.