television

LG's Ultra HD set: 300 sold... and counting?

If a report out of Korea is to be believed, LG's 84-inch Ultra HD television isn't exactly setting the industry on fire with its sales.

According to news site Chosun Ilbo, LG has sold about 300 units of its high-end television. The company's monthly sales have averaged about 70 of the TVs since the product's launch last year.

So, why might sales be so underwhelming? Price may have something to do with it. LG is currently selling its 84-inch Ultra HD set for about $20,000.

Ultra HD technology took center stage at the Consumer Electronics … Read more

Time Warner Cable, Netflix at odds over 'Super HD,' 3D

Time Warner Cable and Netflix are reportedly talking to each other about partnering on the streaming provider's content delivery network (CDN), but the cable provider isn't too pleased about the service.

Speaking to Multichannel in an interview published yesterday, a Time Warner Cable spokesperson criticized Netflix for only delivering its higher-quality high-definition service, Super HD, and 3D videos to customers whose cable providers have signed up with Netflix's Open Connect.

"While they call it Open Connect, Netflix is actually closing off access to some of its content while seeking unprecedented preferential treatment from ISPs," the … Read more

2013 social TV predictions from the experts at CES

LAS VEGAS--What will the social TV landscape look like in 2013? Experts weighed in with their predictions at CES during a panel discussion on how social media is changing TV consumption, discovery, and measurement.

Social television can be defined as the intersection of television content and social networks. The category also considers how consumers engage with TV-enhancing applications on second screens like mobile phones and tablets.

Moderator Michael Wolf, a Forbes contributor, put the social TV crystal ball question to Richard Bullwinkle of Bullwinkle Inc., Jack Flanagan of BlueFin Labs, and Trevor Stout of Yap.tv. Their answers ranged from … Read more

Warner Bros. to bring 'Revolution,' 'Fringe' to Netflix

Netflix and Warner Bros. have signed a deal that will deliver several popular shows to the streaming service.

The companies announced today that they have signed a deal that will see several Warner Bros. Television Group shows make their way to Netflix, including "Revolution," "Fringe," "The West Wing," and "666 Park Avenue." According to the companies, Netflix will be the exclusive online home to complete prior seasons of the shows.

All told, eight shows are included in the deal, but in the future, more could be added.

Time Warner, which owns Warner … Read more

Sony said to be developing online TV service

Word on the street is that Sony is creating a Net-connected multichannel television service that could roll out as soon as this year, according to Variety. Purportedly, the company is in talks with at least two big content companies about channel licensing.

Such a service would put Sony in direct competition with both satellite and cable TV, as well as other tech companies that are branching out into the television market, such as Intel; Google, with Google Fiber; and Dish.

This isn't the first time rumors have floated that Sony has been looking to develop a TV service. In … Read more

Samsung aims to upend TV design at CES, clearly

Samsung is planning to bring a television to the Consumer Electronics Show that looks, well, see-through.

On its blog yesterday, the technology company posted an image of a television that's sitting vertically instead of horizontally. The set also appears to be sitting on a landscape in which the viewer can look through the display to see what's behind it.

Samsung was slim on details, and only had this to say about the set: "A true innovation of TV design is coming up with an unprecedented new TV shape and timeless design."

The Verge was first to report … Read more

Internet on the TV? Meh, say consumers

Your TV may be smart, but you're not making the most of that talent.

Facebook, Twitter, online shopping, Web browsing -- they're simply not getting much screen time on Internet-enabled TVs, according to a new report from NPD. It seems consumers prefer to engage in those activities on other devices.

"In general, these have failed to resonate with the audience, not least because there are better platforms, such as the PC, tablet, or smartphone, for such services," NPD's John Buffone wrote in a blog post today. "The one saving grace to date has been … Read more

Get free seasons of BBC America's 'Copper' and 'Luther'

Poke around Amazon Instant Video's freebies section and you'll often find pilot episodes of new TV shows, previews of upcoming seasons, behind-the-scenes bonus content, and so on. But an entire season of a critically acclaimed (if little-known) series? That you usually have to pay for.

Not today. For what promises to be a limited time, Amazon Instant Video is offering BBC America's "Copper" Season 1 HD absolutely free. (It's also available in standard definition.) That season consists of 10 episodes.

Also available: BBC America's "Luther" Season 2, again in HD or … Read more

Yahoo, Jack Black's production firm ink deal on new Web series

Yahoo Screen is getting a new Web series in the spring.

Electric Dynamite Productions, a production company owned by actor Jack Black, has inked a deal with Shine America to deliver a Web-based comedy series named "Ghost Ghirls" to Yahoo Screen, the companies announced today. Shine America is best known as the production company behind popular shows, "The Biggest Loser" and MasterChef," among several others.

Yahoo Screen is the online company's Web-based video portal. The company offers online videos from third parties, as well as original comedy programming, like "Burning Love" and &… Read more