WEGA

German audio and video manufacturer

For other uses, see Wega.

Not to be confused with Vega.

WEGA

Sony WEGA logo, 2004

Native name

| Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh
Industry| Electronics
Founded| 1923; 101 years ago (1923)
Stuttgart, Germany
Defunct| 2005; 19 years ago (2005)
Fate| Rebranded as BRAVIA
Successor| Sony BRAVIA

Area served

| International
Products| Radio and LED television receivers
Parent| Sony (1975–2005)
Wegavision 2000, TV-prototype 1962, Pinakothek der Moderne Wega tapedeck for Sony Elcaset, 1976–1980[1]

WEGA was a German audio and video manufacturer, manufacturing some of Germany's earliest radio receivers.[2]

## History[edit]

WEGA, pronounced "Vega", was founded as Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh in Stuttgart, Germany in the year 1923. In 1975, it was acquired by Sony Corporation.[2] They were then known throughout Europe for stylish and high-quality stereo equipment, designed by Verner Panton[3] and Hartmut Esslinger.[4] Sony continued to use the WEGA brand until 2005, when liquid-crystal displays superseded the company's Trinitron aperture grille-based CRT models.[5]

Starting in 1998, Sony released a television line called FD Trinitron/WEGA, a flat-screen television with side-mounted speakers and a silver-coloured cabinet.

Sony says that the FD Trinitron WEGA was named after a star ("Vega" in English) in the Lyra constellation, and made no reference to the original WEGA firm.[6]

Sony has also used WEGA as a name for flat-screen televisions with newer technologies than CRT. Their flat-panel LCD televisions were branded LCD WEGA until summer 2005[7][8][9] when they were rebranded BRAVIA. There are early promotional photos of the first BRAVIA televisions still bearing the WEGA label.[citation needed] Introduced in 2002, Sony's plasma display televisions were also branded as Plasma WEGA until being superseded by the BRAVIA LCD line. Sony's rear-projection televisions, either Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) or LCD-based, were branded as Grand WEGA until Sony discontinued production of rear-projection receivers.[citation needed]

## Importance[edit]

The quality of the design by Esslinger was highly appreciated, to the extent that the Museum of Modern Art in New York[10] exhibits one example, the Concept 51k sound-system, for which a special stand was an available option.[11]

In 1980 Sony used half of the production in Stuttgart for its Trinitron televisions.[12][13]

WEGA Studio 3214 HiFi with record player Dual 1218 and loudspeakers Telefunken L 250, 1972

## References[edit]

1. ^ Dahl, Axel. "Sony EL-7 on thevintageknob.org". www.thevintageknob.org.
2. ^ a b "Wega, Württembergische Radio-Ges. mbH; Stuttgart manufacture". www.radiomuseum.org.
3. ^ "Design is fine. History is mine. (Stereo Bar 3300)". 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
4. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Hartmut Esslinger". EUIPO. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
5. ^ "Sony TV-Serie: Aus "WEGA" wird "BRAVIA"". Areadvd.de.
6. ^ Forums (2001-07-24). "Is it sony Vega or Wega?". Home Theater Forum.
7. ^ "Sony KLV-S19A10 WEGA - 19" LCD TV Specs - CNET". CNET. 2003-01-03.
8. ^ "Overview of the TV buttons and indicators - Sony Wega KE-V42A10E anleitung". www.bedienungsanleitu.ng.
9. ^ "WEGA 26" LCD TV – Product overview – What Hi-Fi?". Whathifi. 4 October 2021.
10. ^ "WEGA Concept 51K sound system". SFMOMA.
11. ^ "Concept 51K Radio Wega, Württembergische Radio-Ges. mbH; Stu". www.radiomuseum.org.
12. ^ "Eines Tages überflüssig". Der Spiegel (Online) (in German). 1980-07-27.
13. ^ Unda Maris (2009-03-10). "WEGA & SONY: what's the story?". Audiokarma.org, Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums.

## External links[edit]

* WEGA at radiomuseum.org (German)

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Sony

History

Founders|

* Masaru Ibuka
* Akio Morita

Primary businesses|

* Sony Corporation
* Sony Semiconductor Solutions
* Sony Entertainment
* Sony Music Group
* Entertainment
* Publishing
* Sony Pictures
* Sony Financial Group
* Sony Life
* Sony Bank
* Sony Interactive Entertainment
* PlayStation
* Sony Music Entertainment Japan
* Aniplex

Technologies
and brands|

* α (Alpha)
* Betacam
* Bionz
* Blu-ray
* Bravia
* CD
* Cell
* Cyber-shot
* Dash
* Dream Machine
* DVD
* Exmor
* FeliCa
* Handycam
* HDCAM/HDCAM-SR
* HMZ-T1
* Inzone
* LocationFree
* Memory Stick
* MiniDisc
* MiniDV
* MicroMV
* mylo
* PlayNow
* PlayStation
* Reader
* S/PDIF
* SDDS
* 8 channel films
* Sony Entertainment Network
* SXRD
* Sony Tablet
* Tunnel diode
* TransferJet
* UMD
* Vaio
* Video8/Hi8/Digital8
* Vision-S
* Walkman
* XDCAM
* Xperia

Historical products|

* AIBO
* CV-2000
* DAT
* Betamax
* Sony CLIÉ
* Discman
* Jumbotron
* Lissa
* Mavica
* NEWS
* Optiarc
* Qualia
* Rolly
* TR-55
* Trinitron
* FD series
* 1 inch Type C
* U-matic
* Vaio
* Watchman
* WEGA

Electronics|

* Sony Creative Software
* FeliCa Networks (57%)

Online distribution
platforms|

* PlayStation Network
* PlayStation Now
* PlayStation Store
* Sony Pictures Core
* SonyLIV
* Crunchyroll
* Great American Pure Flix (joint venture with Great American Media)

| Former/Defunct|

* PlayNow
* PlayStation Video
* PlayStation Vue
* Anime Digital Network
* Anime on Demand
* AnimeLab
* Funimation
* Wakanim
* VRV
* Sony Entertainment Network
* Crackle
* Minisodes

|

Other businesses|

* Sony DADC
* Sony Network Communications
* Sony Professional Solutions
* Sony Honda Mobility (50%)
* M3 (39.4%)
* Vaio (4.9%)

Other assets|

* Sony Corporation of America (umbrella company in the US)
* Other subsidiaries
* List of acquisitions
* List of libraries

Nonprofit organizations|

* Sony Institute of Higher Education Shohoku College

Other|

* Sony Toshiba IBM Center of Competence for the Cell Processor
* Sony timer

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