Advanced Television

UHD

70% Italians are HD-ready, only 20% watch

The number of Italian households with a TV set that supports High Definition has exceeded 17 million, about 70 per cent of the total, according to industry association HD Forum Italia.However, only one in five are actually watching HD broadcasts because the free-to-air offer on Digital Terrestrial Television is limited to one HD channel from […]

May 1, 2013From Branislav Pekic in Rome

No 4K Blu-ray this year

The Blu-ray Disc Association says last year’s task force to extend the Blu-ray format to allow for 4K content has resulted in a final set of recommendations for consideration. “Through the first quarter of this year, the task force solicited and received numerous proposals, and is now evaluating the various technologies,” said the Association. However, […]

April 30, 2013By Chris Forrester

Spain tests Immersive TV

A group of Universities (UPM, UPV) and companies (Agile Content, Eumovil, Ericsson and Inmomatica) have joined forces to develop Immersive TV, a R&D project that allows viewers to naturally interact with the actions being broadcast and even participate in the scene. With a budget of €2.7 million and co-funded by the Ministry of Industry, Immersive […]

April 29, 2013From David Del Valle in Madrid

LG to sell curved OLED TVs in South Korea

LG Electronics has confirmed it will begin deliveries of curved OLED television sets next month, making it the first to offer such a product to the public. The 55i inch model will cost 15 million won (€10,775) and is initially limited to sales in South Korea. OLED technology is based on carbon-based materials that convert […]

April 29, 2013

UPC DTH launching Travel Channel HD

UPC DTH, the  provider in Central and Eastern Europe, is further enhancing its HD line-up with the addition of Travel Channel HD on UPC Direct in Hungary, freeSAT in Czech and Slovakia and Focus Sat in Romania. Starting 1st May 2013, UPC DTH HD customers will be able to watch Travel Channel in HD as […]

April 29, 2013

Japan creates ‘super group’ for Ultra-HD

Twenty-one Japanese broadcasters, consumer electronics companies and telcos have come together to create a high profile development partnership to help Japan, and the rest of the world., to move into television’s next generation transmission format, Ultra-HDTV. The grouping includes public broadcaster NHK, which is actively backing its Super Hi-Vision/8K format, as well as commercial broadcaster […]

April 25, 2013By Chris Forrester

LG optimistic about OLED production

South Korea’s LG is making aggressive plans to convert existing LCD production lines to OLED output. By the middle of next year LG says it should be producing 6,000 panels per hour and will have improved production quality. This year LG expects 1 million 4K displays to be shipped to the market, higher than previously […]

April 25, 2013By Chris Forrester

Warner, Walmart offer Man of Steel exclusives

US retail giant Walmart has partnered with Warner Bros to give its customers exclusive access to see Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Man of Steel – the latest Superman movie – in theatres nationwide before the film’s official release. This programme marks the first time in entertainment history that a studio has partnered with […]

April 25, 2013By Colin Mann

LG suffers on low TV sales

Falling sales of televisions hit quarterly earnings at LG Electronics while a weaker yen benefited Japanese rivals. The South Korean company cut television prices sharply in the face of falling demand and rising competition. That overshadowed record smartphone sales as LG tries to make up lost ground in the mobile phone market by focusing on […]

April 24, 2013

Mobiles lead electronics purchases

US consumers’ desire for mobility is driving sales of tablets, smartphones, e-readers and wireless mobile hotspots, according to a study released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The 15th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study also found that consumer electronics (CE) spending is up for individuals (35 per cent) and households (36 per […]

April 23, 2013