LG launches Channel Plus for smart TVs

LG Electronics USA is integrating online and broadcast content on 2016 LG Smart TVs with webOS.
LG’s debut of Channel Plus, a streaming service powered by Xumo, offers free access to an extensive roster of premium Internet content – available as both live and on-demand programming – presented simply as TV channels alongside over-the-air channels.

Channel Plus began rolling out this month to LG smart TVs featuring the company’s webOS 3.0 Smart TV platform, led by LG OLED and LG SUPER Ultra HD TVs.

“Channel Plus is a huge step forward in the evolution of Smart TV – and only LG offers it. Users can enjoy nearly 50 quality content choices free of charge on their LG Smart TV, and with webOS 3.0, accessing them has never been simpler or faster,” said David VanderWaal, vice-president of marketing, LG Electronics USA. “By delivering premium Internet content seamlessly with broadcast channels together in the same channel line-up, LG aims to make it easier than ever for consumers to find and enjoy the content they want to watch in one centralised place – whether it’s streaming or broadcast.”

Channel Plus ‘channels’ appear as traditional TV channels, so viewers can easily channel surf among broadcast and online programmes without launching an app, using LG’s Magic Remote. Users with a cable set top box can access the range of Channel Plus content options simply by setting their input mode into live TV or directly via the Channel Plus app.

“It has been truly exciting partnering with LG in developing Channel Plus. This new service represents an important step forward for the OTT space by streamlining the viewing experience for the Smart TV user through seamless, native content integration,” said Colin Petrie-Norris, CEO of Xumo. “The Channel Plus service aligns perfectly with our DNA at Xumo as it delivers free premium programming in an organic and accessible way. With Channel Plus, all the cool content we used to have to search the web high and low for is now aggregated and attractively organised in one innovative solution on LG Smart TVs.”