Editing Magnavox

{{short description|American electronics company}}
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{{Update|date=January 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2025}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = Magnavox
| logo = [[File:Magnavox Logo.svg|border|250px]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1917}}<br />[[Napa, California]], U.S.
| founder = Edwin Pridham<br />[[Peter L. Jensen]]
| location = [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], U.S.
| key_people = 
| area_served = 
| industry = [[Consumer electronics]]
| products = [[Magnavox Odyssey|Odyssey]] and [[Magnavox Odyssey series|its successors]]<br />TVs<br />Speakers<br />Blu-ray and DVD players<br />Dehumidifiers<br />Heaters<br />Air conditioners<br /> Headphones<br />Batteries
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = North American Philips (1974-1987) <br/> [[Philips]] (1987–2025) <br/> Curtis International Ltd. (2025–present)
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{URL|magnavox.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Magnavox''' ([[Latin]] for "great voice", often stylized as '''MAGNAVOX''') is an American [[electronics]] company. It was purchased by North American Philips in 1974,<ref>{{cite news |title=Magnavox Wholly Owned by North American Philips| work=The New York Times | date=25 July 1975 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/25/archives/magnavox-wholly-owned-by-north-american-philips.html |access-date=2023-06-19}}</ref> which was absorbed into Dutch electronics company [[Philips]] in 1987. The predecessor to Magnavox was founded in 1911 by Edwin Pridham and [[Peter L. Jensen]], co-inventors of the moving-coil [[loudspeaker]] at their lab in [[Napa, California]], under United States Patent number 1,105,924 for telephone receivers.<ref name=korn>Kornum, Rene. "[http://ing.dk/artikel/hoejttaleren-fylder-100-aar-og-foedselaren-er-dansk-179868 The loudspeaker is 100 years old]" ''[[Ingeniøren]]'', 4 November 2015</ref> Six decades later, Magnavox produced the [[Magnavox Odyssey|Odyssey]], the world's first home [[video game console]].

On January 29, 2013, it was announced that Philips had agreed to sell its audio and video operations to the Japan-based [[Funai|Funai Electric]] for €150 million, with the audio business planned to transfer to Funai in the latter half of 2013, and the video business in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|author=Van, Robert|date=29 January 2013|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/source/2013/01/29/philips-exits-consumer-electronics/|title=Philips Exits Consumer Electronics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125094913/https://blogs.wsj.com/source/2013/01/29/philips-exits-consumer-electronics/ |archive-date=25 November 2017|website=Blogs.wsj.com|access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref><ref name=bbc29113>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21242127|title=Philips to exit hi-fis and DVD players|access-date=2 February 2013|work=BBC News|date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131104232/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21242127|archive-date=31 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-philips-idUKBRE90S0C820130129|title=Philips exits shrinking home entertainment business|access-date=2 February 2013|work=Reuters|date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517221657/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/01/29/uk-philips-idUKBRE90S0C820130129|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> As part of the transaction, Funai was to pay a regular licensing fee to Philips for the use of the Philips brand.<ref name=bbc29113/> The purchase agreement was terminated by Philips in October because of breach of contract<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2013/10/25/philips-to-take-legal-action-against-funai/|title=Philips to take legal action against Funai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028033116/http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2013/10/25/philips-to-take-legal-action-against-funai/ |archive-date=28 October 2013|work=Broadbandtvnews.com|date=25 October 2013|access-date=9 December 2013}}</ref> and the consumer electronics operations remain under Philips. Philips said it would seek damages for breach of contract in the [[United States dollar|US$]]200-million sale.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/philips-breaks-off-deal-funai-20679628|title=Philips Breaks off Deal With Funai|last=Sterling|first=Toby |author2=Mari Yamaguchi |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=22 June 2014|location=Amsterdam| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102130812/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/philips-breaks-off-deal-funai-20679628 | archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> In April 2016, the [[International Court of Arbitration]] ruled in favour of Philips, awarding compensation of [[Euro|€]]135 million in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2016/20160426-philips-announces-decision-by-icc-international-court-of-arbitration-in-funai-arbitration-case.html|title=Philips announces decision by ICC International Court of Arbitration in Funai arbitration case|date=26 April 2016|website=Philips Electronics|language=en-US|access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref> Magnavox brand name products are currently made by [[Funai]] and [[Craig Electronics]] under license from trademark owner Philips.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magnavox.com/|title=MAGNAVOX|website=Magnavox.com|access-date=25 October 2014}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Radio d'epoca, primi apparecchi magnavox, anni dieci 02.JPG|thumb|Vintage Magnavox logo on a vintage amplifier]]
Jensen and Pridham founded the Commercial Wireless and Development Company in Napa, CA in 1911, moving to San Francisco, and then Oakland in 1916. In July 1917, a merger with The Sonora Phonograph Distributor Company was finalized and the Magnavox Company was born. Frank Morgan Steers was chosen as the company's first President. Jensen moved on to found the [[Jensen Loudspeakers|Jensen Radio Manufacturing Company]] in Chicago, in the late 1920s. Pridham stayed on with Magnavox, which moved manufacturing to [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] by the 1930s. The term "Commercial Wireless" had a different meaning in the early days of radio and telephone. Magnavox manufactured radios, TVs, and [[phonograph]]s. In the 1960s, Magnavox manufactured the first [[plasma display]]s for the military and for computer applications.

[[File:Magnavox-Odyssey-Console-Set-FL.jpg|thumb|[[Magnavox Odyssey]]]]
In 1972 Magnavox introduced the [[Magnavox Odyssey|Odyssey]], the first [[video game console]].<ref name="willaert20100110">{{Cite web |url=https://gamehistory.org/first-video-game-commercial/ |title=In Search of the First Video Game Commercial |last=Willaert |first=Kate |date=2018-01-10 |publisher=Video Game History Foundation |access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref> In 1974, North American Philips acquired a majority stake in the Magnavox Company, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary the following year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/25/archives/magnavox-wholly-owned-by-north-american-philips.html |title=Magnavox Wholly Owned by North American Philips |work=The New York Times |date=25 July 1975 |access-date=2023-06-19}}</ref> Philips acquired the similar-sounding company [[Philco]] in 1981, and Philips was able to freely use the Philips name, alternating with the Magnavox name for some electronics, with the personal care business continuing to use the Norelco name.

In the late 1970s, Philips developed [[LaserDisc]] technology, producing an optically read, 12&nbsp;inch disc that would contain recorded video material. In the early 1980s, Philips worked with Sony to create a standard for optical audio discs (CDs), using the technology developed for the LaserDisc.

[[File:Magnavox Laserdisc player.jpg|thumb|Magnavox [[LaserDisc player]]]]
Teamed with [[Sony]], Philips used the Magnavox brand name to introduce the [[CD-DA]] standard and equipment for consumer audio with the Magnavox player sold in department stores while the [[Sony CDP-101]] went to high-end audio stores.

During the late 1970s the company released the [[Magnavox Odyssey²|Odyssey²]], in Europe also known as [[Philips Videopac|Philips Videopac G7000]].

In the early 1980s, Philips merged [[Osram Sylvania|Sylvania]], Philco and Magnavox into one division headquartered in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], with a manufacturing plant in [[Greeneville, Tennessee]]. The Sylvania plant in [[Batavia, New York]], was closed and all operations moved to Greeneville. Philips also abandoned the Sylvania trademark which is owned by [[Osram]].

In the late 1980s, Magnavox sold the Magnavox/Philips [[VideoWriter]] with some success. Released in 1985, the VideoWriter was a standalone fixed-application [[word processing]] machine ([[electronic typewriter]]).

[[Philips Computers]], primarily based in Canada, sold its products in North America under the Magnavox brand with minor rebadging in logo and color scheme of computers, monitors, peripherals and manuals. Philips exited the proprietary personal computer business in 1992. Philips sold the Greenville plant in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Magnavox Timeline| work = Greeneville Publishing Company| date = 17 December 2016| access-date = 2018-10-16| url = https://www.greenevillesun.com/news/local_news/magnavox-timeline/article_715c6a79-7884-5a6d-b92e-6ca94bfec89f.html}}</ref>

In the 1990s, several Magnavox branded [[CD-i]] players were marketed by Philips.

Starting in the early 1990s, some Philips electronics were marketed under the [[brand name]] "Philips Magnavox", in an attempt to increase brand awareness of the Philips name in the United States. While it did work to a degree, it also caused confusion to the consumer as to the difference between "Philips Magnavox" products and "Philips" products, resulting in Philips marketing the two brands separately again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/philips-electronics-north-america-corp-history/|title=History of Philips Electronics North America Corp.|publisher=FundingUniverse|access-date=2016-09-28}}</ref>

[[File:Phillips_Magnavox_VCR.jpg|thumb|right|A typical Philips Magnavox VCR]]

==Licensing==

The brand also has worked with [[Funai]] with their televisions after the Philips Magnavox name was popular. Magnavox also has a [[brand licensing]] deal where several of their [[consumer electronics]] are manufactured by [[Craig Electronics]] and sold under the Magnavox brand.<ref>{{cite news |title=At CES, Licensing Stretches Brands in New Directions |url=https://www.licensing.org/inside-licensing/at-ces-licensing-stretches-brands-in-new-directions/ |work=Licensing International |date=January 11, 2018 |location=Las Vegas}}</ref>

In Australia, the rights to the Magnavox brand are not owned by Philips but by Mistral Ltd, a Hong Kong trading company that uses it to sell audio/video equipment of a different make.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mistral.com.au/brands/brands.asp |title=Mistral (HK) Limited |website=www.mistral.com.au |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626052751/http://www.mistral.com.au/brands/brands.asp |archive-date=26 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Europe, the brand Magnavox was briefly used in the 1990s by Philips on budget consumer electronics to replace traditional local brand names (such as [[Aristona]], Erres, Hornyphon, Radiola, Siera). Since no one recognised the brand name, it was soon discontinued.

==Defense Electronics==

The defense electronics group, centered in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], remained independent under the '''Magnavox Electronic Systems''' name, first under Philips and later in the [[Carlyle Group]], until it was acquired by [[Hughes Electronics]] in 1995.<ref name="washtech_magnavox">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/11_1/news/10284-1.html |title=17 |website=www.washingtontechnology.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050226123115/http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/11_1/news/10284-1.html |archive-date=26 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The three areas of business of the MESC operation during the late 1980s and early 1990s were C-Cubed ([[Command, Control, and Communication]]), [[Electronic Warfare]], and [[sonobuoy]]s. When Hughes Electronics sold its aerospace and defense operations to [[Raytheon]], the former Magnavox defense operations were transferred as well.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} Shortly thereafter, Raytheon spun off the sonobuoy operation to form Under Sea Systems Inc (USSI), in [[Columbia City, Indiana]]. In 1998, Raytheon sold USSI to a British defense consortium named Ultra Electronics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitleyedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/WhitleyCoEDC_CaseStudies-USSI.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://whitleyedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/WhitleyCoEDC_CaseStudies-USSI.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Ultra Electronics - USSI |website=Whitleyedc.com |access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref> The company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Ultra, manufacturing water and acoustic sensing and communications devices for military and civil defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultra-ussi.com/|title=Ultra Electronics&nbsp;— USSI, Innovation Through Experience|author=Nathan Schueth|website=Ultra-ussi.com|access-date=25 October 2014}}</ref>

Among the defense products Magnavox manufactured were the [[AN/ARC-164|AN/ARC-164 UHF radio]], AN/SSQ-53 series sonobuoys, AN/ALQ-128 EW equipment, AN/SSQ-62 series sonobuoys, and the [[Project Manager Battle Command#Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)|Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System]] ([[Project Manager Battle Command#Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)|AFATDS]]).<ref name="Forecast International">{{cite web |url=http://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/dc/dc1879.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.forecastinternational.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117130241/http://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/dc/dc1879.htm |archive-date=17 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.magnavox.com/ Official website]

{{Philips}}
{{Audio broadcasting}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1917 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1917]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1917]]
[[Category:Companies based in Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Consumer electronics brands]]
[[Category:Defunct electronics companies of the United States]]
[[Category:History of radio in the United States]]
[[Category:History of television in the United States]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Philips]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:1974 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Radio manufacturers]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]