Vizio has rapidly become one of the biggest TV makers in America. The company announced recently that in Q4 2008 it was the second largest TV shipper in America beating out many of the largest global TV makers.

Vizio has announced that it is seeking FCC help against Funai Electronics to stop what Vizio calls “extortionate demands” for patent licensing fees being imposed by Funai. Vizio says that when the FCC adopted the digital TV standards in effect for the U.S. it imposed patent license agreements, which Funai isn’t following.

We have heard for a while now that sales in Q4 2008 were abysmal for many retailers. The final quarter of the year is typically huge for most retailers and companies as consumers buy for the holiday season. Q4 2008 was different though and thanks to the poor global economy, not much happened in the way of sales.

Vizio issued a statement today that provided numbers for its shipments over Q4 2008. Despite what most of the rest of the electronics industry reported, Vizio had a great quarter. The company says that over the quarter it was the second largest shipper of HDTVs in America.

Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year with holiday shoppers flocking to stores and malls for good deals. Despite the poor economy, electronics are still expected to sell well this holiday season and Vizio has announced some of the deals on its HDTVs for today.

Vizio is one of the top shippers of TVs in America. Costco will be offering a 19-inch VA19 LCD HDTV for $199.99 with a coupon through 12-7. At Walmart the 32-inch VP322 plasma HDTV, (the set credited with bringing plasma bask by many research firms) will retail for $437.

Amongst the other LCD HDTVs VIZIO was showing off last week at CES, one line which is being called “contemporary styled” is the new VU “Envy” series. It is set to be available sometime this year, though plans are finalized as of yet.

VIZIO said the VU series, which consists of 32-, 37- and 42-inch displays, offers up a side “HD Game Port” for easy connectivity to HDMI enabled devices. VIZIO said these models offer “exceptional video performance with reduced pixel noise and color equalization.”

Get more details on the new VIZIO VU series after the jump.

VIZIO, besides flooding CES with new HDTVs, also unveiled at the trade show an accompanying 5.1 surround sound system for its new line of “Black Tie” flat panels. The VIZIO Jive SV5.1 Enhancement Kit is priced at around $300.

The VIZIO Jive SV5.1 Enhancement Kit is pretty much your garden variety 5.1 system. It works in conjunction with your flat panel’s “integrated front left- and-right speakers by simply adding the center channel, two rear channel (left and right) speakers, and wireless subwoofer. The subwoofer transmits wirelessly through 2.4GHz transmission to the new VIZIO Black Tie Series SV42LF or SV47LF.”

VIZIO, that upstart HDTV brand you see for sale at Costco-like places, is dropping the LCD hammer big time at CES as it reveals lots of new HDTVs. One new line up of flat panel displays is the “Black Tie” series.

The VIZIO “Black Tie” series includes 42 and 47-inch displays. It is noted by VIZIO for having “120Hz processing with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation), a side access HD game port and full 1080p resolution.”

Get the whole story on these new VIZIO displays after the jump.