LG 'webOS TV' Plants Flags in 29 Countries After 8 Years... "Offering 2,900 Free Channels"

Free Channels Without Set-Top Box
Expanded from 1,900 in 25 Countries at End of Last Year
to About 2,900 in 29 Countries
'Positive Trend' in Global Market Since First Installation in 2014

LG Electronics has expanded its LG Channels service, which offers free content on webOS TVs, from over 1,900 channels in 25 countries at the end of last year to approximately 2,900 channels in 29 countries currently. The photo shows the LG Channels service running on an LG OLED TV. (Photo by LG Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] LG Electronics' 'webOS TV' free content channel service has grown to offer about 2,900 services in 29 countries worldwide, eight years after its launch. This has opened up various ways for customers to enjoy free content tailored to their preferences globally, aligning with LG's 'Customer Experience (CX) Management.'

On the 13th, LG Electronics announced that the number of 'LG Channels' provided on smart TVs equipped with its proprietary operating system 'webOS' has increased by about 100 in the past year. The number of channels has grown from about 1,900 in 25 countries at the end of last year to approximately 2,900 in 29 countries currently. This is the result of recent launches in four Latin American countries: Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Chile.

The first webOS TV equipped with LG Channels was released in 2014, marking this achievement eight years into the business. LG acquired webOS in February 2013. Since 2015, LG Channels have been pre-installed on all LG smart TV models. According to LG Electronics' research, as of last October, the number of global LG Channel service users and viewing time each increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year.

LG Channels is a service that allows users to watch various channels for free on webOS TVs without a separate set-top box, as long as they are connected to the internet. Customers can access it through the LG Channel app on the TV home screen. It is mainly used by single-person households who find subscribing to paid broadcasts burdensome or customers watching on two or more TVs in one household.

In Europe and Latin America, LG has significantly increased the number of channels through collaboration with leading global content providers. The service focuses on popular local content such as news, current affairs, entertainment, and dramas. In South Korea, LG is collaborating with terrestrial broadcasters like MBC and SBS, as well as digital content operators such as NEW ID. About 80 pieces of content are offered for free domestically. An LG Electronics official explained, "The expansion of free content tailored to customer preferences and a user experience (UX) that provides a viewing environment similar to traditional TV have been factors in gaining customer approval."

As part of strengthening device experience (CDX) services across devices, LG Electronics is providing LG Channel services not only on TVs but also on PCs and mobile devices. This was first applied in the United States and Germany last September. The company plans to steadily increase the number of launch countries and content. Moreover, LG has made it possible to enjoy LG Channels through products from other TV manufacturers using the webOS platform. The webOS TV platform business started last year, and currently, the number of TV brands applying it has reached about 200.

Jo Byungha, Executive Vice President and Head of the HE (Home Entertainment) Platform Business at LG Electronics, said, "Through the LG Channel service, we will enable more customers to experience the differentiated value unique to LG TVs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.