Has Vizio snuck one in again?

Last year, during the Rose Bowl half-time break, Vizio ran what appeared to be a run-of-the-mill commercial for their products. Then, at the 16-second mark in a 30-second spot, Vizio Chief Sales Officer Randy Waynick was shown nonchalantly holding what would turn out to be Vizio’s then-unannounced 8-inch tablet. He never mentioned it or alluded to it other than to glance down at it.

This year, during a similar 30-second Rose Bowl spot, Vizio Chief of Technology Matt McCrae delivered a similar generic product message. But, barely three seconds of another unmentioned product stood out. Could this sleek thing of beauty be Vizio’s newest pride and joy?

2012 Rose Bowl Ad

2011 Rose Bowl Ad

If Vizio is ready to launch that set, we’ll likely hear about it at the Consumer Electronics Show this month.

Vizio has a history of competitively pricing their HDTVs in comparison with other manufacturers. Their Rose Bowl ads tout affordability for everyone.

Vizio has a four-year contract for sponsorship of the annual Rose Bowl. Time will tell if they continue to use their spots in half-time to “sneak peek” new products.