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CNN Live At Daybreak

Zenith Recalling Many Large Screen TV Sets

Aired January 30, 2003 - 06:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I know you're watching television. Can you see the brand name? Is it a Sony? Oh, well, if it's a Zenith, well, listen up, because
Zenith is recalling many of its large screen TV sets.

CNN's Julie Vallese is live in Bethesda, Maryland with the details for you -- what's up with these TVs, Julie?

JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

The government's top safety agency is recalling these Zenith big screen television sets. The defect poses a fire hazard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALLESE (voice-over): After recognizing 45 complaints, four resulting in minor property damage, Zenith Electronics has agreed to recall almost 80,000 large screen television sets. This recall expands on an earlier silent recall involving 111,000 sets, bringing the total to almost 200,000.

HAL STRATTON, CPSC: A tear in the gasket can cause coolant fluid to leak from the picture tube assembly. This can cause smoking, charring and electrical arcing inside the television, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

VALLESE: The television sets have 46 to 60 inch screens and were manufactured from April 1995 through July 1997, and August 1998 through November 1998. The manufacturer date can be found on a sticker on the back of the television set. The big screens sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 from April 1995 through April 1999.

JOHN TAYLOR, ZENITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS: This product recall reflects Zenith's commitment to serving our customers.

VALLESE: Television sets made after 1998 are not involved in this recall.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALLESE: Now, Carol, if you have one of these big screen television sets, you're not getting a new one. Instead, you can call Zenith to set up an appointment where they'll send a certified technician for an inspection and repair -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Good enough. Julie Vallese reporting live for us from Bethesda, Maryland this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 30, 2003 - 06:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I know you're watching television. Can you see the brand name? Is it a Sony? Oh, well, if it's a Zenith, well, listen up, because
Zenith is recalling many of its large screen TV sets.

CNN's Julie Vallese is live in Bethesda, Maryland with the details for you -- what's up with these TVs, Julie?

JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

The government's top safety agency is recalling these Zenith big screen television sets. The defect poses a fire hazard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALLESE (voice-over): After recognizing 45 complaints, four resulting in minor property damage, Zenith Electronics has agreed to recall almost 80,000 large screen television sets. This recall expands on an earlier silent recall involving 111,000 sets, bringing the total to almost 200,000.

HAL STRATTON, CPSC: A tear in the gasket can cause coolant fluid to leak from the picture tube assembly. This can cause smoking, charring and electrical arcing inside the television, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

VALLESE: The television sets have 46 to 60 inch screens and were manufactured from April 1995 through July 1997, and August 1998 through November 1998. The manufacturer date can be found on a sticker on the back of the television set. The big screens sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 from April 1995 through April 1999.

JOHN TAYLOR, ZENITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS: This product recall reflects Zenith's commitment to serving our customers.

VALLESE: Television sets made after 1998 are not involved in this recall.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALLESE: Now, Carol, if you have one of these big screen television sets, you're not getting a new one. Instead, you can call Zenith to set up an appointment where they'll send a certified technician for an inspection and repair -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Good enough. Julie Vallese reporting live for us from Bethesda, Maryland this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com