Tv Or Not TV?

Not TV? Zenith drops out of computers to concentrate on the tube

Given a choice between two product lines, one thriving and the other struggling, most companies would have no problem deciding which one to embrace. But for Zenith, the decision was painful. The suburban-Chicago company surprised the high-tech industry last week by agreeing to sell its prosperous computer division to France's Groupe Bull for about $635 million. In doing so, Zenith, the last major U.S. maker of TV sets, decided to stake its future on that risky and supercompetitive business.

Heavily in debt, Zenith has reported losses in three of the past four years. Says Chairman Jerry Pearlman: "We are a highly...

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