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Zenith Systems history
Zenith Systems company history timeline
Zenith got its start in 1918 when two wireless-radio enthusiasts, Karl Hassel and Ralph H.G. Mathews, set up a “factory” on a kitchen table in Chicago and began making radio equipment for other amateurs.
In 1948, Zenith introduced its first line of black-and-white TV sets.
Zenith introduced its first color TV sets for consumers in 1961 and quickly established itself as a leading brand.
The 1969 introduction of the revolutionary “Chromacolor” black-matrix (negative guardband) picture tube doubled the image brightness of color television and established a new standard of performance for the entire industry.
ZDS was founded in 1979 when Zenith Electronics Corporation, a leader in the North American electronics industry, purchased the Heath Company, a manufacturer of personal computers and do-it-yourself electronics equipment.
In 1979, Zenith acquired the Heath Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of build-it-yourself electronic kit products for hobbyists.
Capitalizing on Heath’s early entry into personal computers, Zenith formed Zenith Data Systems in 1980.
In 1984, after a failed attempt to convince college bookstores to carry its products, ZDS turned to fraternity houses and succeeded in penetrating the college market.
According to one report, ZDS's revenues totaled $1.4 billion in 1988.
By 1988, ZDS was the nation's number one laptop PC seller, with an estimated 23 percent share of the market.
Beginning in 1988, Zenith has been a leader in HDTV technologies.
In December 1989, Compagnie des Machines Bull (also known as Groupe Bull or Bull) purchased ZDS for $511 million.
Zenith MinisPort Laptop1989 The Zenith MinisPort was a notebook-sized laptop released in 1989.
In January 1991, ZDS appointed Enrico Pesatori as CEO. Pesatori was given the responsibility of turning the company around and restoring its status.
Zenith MasterSport 386SXJanuary 1992 Zenith MasterSport 386SX is a notebook computer.
In March 1992, however, the stores were closed.
The resulting Z-Series was released in June 1992.
Total sales for 1992 were estimated at $900 million.
ZDS also unveiled a new series of desktop PCs in 1993, the Z-SELECT 100 line.
In another 1993 move, ZDS's parent company, Groupe Bull, acquired a 19.9 percent interest in Packard-Bell.
By 1994, ZDS reported having installed a total of more than 700,000 PC's for the United States military and civilian agencies.
For ZDS, 1994 opened with the announcement of a new PC product line: the Z-STOR Personal Server.
In November 1995, LG Electronics Inc., a world leader in consumer electronics, acquired a majority interest in Zenith.
Zenith developed the VSB (vestigial side band) digital transmission system, which was adopted in December 1996 by the FCC as the centerpiece of the ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) digital television broadcast standard.
In 1997, Zenith and other members of the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance earned a technical Emmy for pioneering developments behind the ATSC standard.
Zenith launched a major brand revitalization program in 1997, updating its famous lightning bolt logo and creating a new marketing campaign designed to introduce the company and its products to a new generation of consumers.
In 1998, Zenith was recognized by Fortune Magazine as the top consumer electronics brand in customer satisfaction.
In November 1999, Zenith became a wholly owned subsidiary of LG. The new century marked a new beginning for Zenith, building on its technology strengths and those of its parent company.
Capitalizing on the powerful combination of LG’s technical, marketing and financial resources, and Zenith’s renowned brand name and digital HDTV expertise, Zenith merged with LG in 1999.
In 1999, Zenith completed a broad financial and operational restructuring plan designed to return the company to financial health and leverage its brand, distribution and technology strengths.
Zenith sold the Network Systems division in 2000.
During that same period, Zenith and LG engineers also developed new digital television technologies, including the core innovations behind the broadcasting standard for mobile digital TV, adopted by the ATSC in 2009.
Since opening at the end of 2013, over 5,000 children have visited the Centre.
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Zenith Systems may also be known as or be related to Zenith Systems, Zenith Systems LLC, Zenith Systems Llc and Zenith Systems, LLC.