Freeview Play to launch on LG smart TVs

LG’s new UH9500 TV

Freeview Play, the connected TV service from UK digital-terrestrial TV provider Freeview, will launch on LG Smart TVs in the first half of 2016.

The offering will be available on LG TVs running webOS 3.0, enabling UK viewers to access live television, catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and on-demand services, with more services due to be added in 2016.

Freeview Play first launched in October and is already available on TVs, DVR and Blu-ray recorders from Panasonic and on DVRs made by Humax.

“We believe that Freeview Play is set to be the new normal way of watching TV and I’m really pleased to welcome LG on board as a partner,” said Freeview managing director, Guy North.

“Sales of Freeview Play TVs and set top boxes have already shown sharp increases since launch, with our accompanying advertising campaign making millions of consumers aware of the benefits the service can offer them. I look forward to the platform continuing to grow throughout 2016.”

Separately at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG unveiled its 2016 line of 4K High Dynamic Range-enabled OLED TVs. Led by its flagship 77- and 65-inch class G6 and 65- and 55-inch class E6 models, the lineup consists of eight new models in flat and curved-screen options and various sizes.

LG’s 2016 OLED TVs feature HDR Pro, which the firm says offers a “superior HDR viewing experience”, with increased contrast ratio and colour range.