LG's Pause & Play TVs Highest Rated by Digital Television Group

LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display market, announced that its Pause & Play TVs with built-in digital video recorders (DVR), received Freeview Playback certification from the UK’s Digital Television Group.

“This is the first time a device other than a set-top box has won Freeview Playback certification. Our DVR is built-in to the TV, allowing people to pause and record TV serials without having to connect a clumsy external unit to their televisions,” said Mr. Choon LEE, Head of Digital TV R&D Center, LG Electronics. “The Digital Television Group’s seal will remind customers of the high quality of LG’s Pause & Play TVs.”

The Digital Television Group, or DTG, is the UK’s industry association for digital television. It set technical standards for DVR in 2006 and also created guidelines for consumers who are looking to purchase digital video recorders as the UK prepares to change over to digital broadcasting by 2008.

There are two levels of Freeview Playback certification. To attain the first level a DVR must be able to record essential program information including audio, video, subtitles and closed captions. Second level certification requires that the DVR have an advanced programming guide that can make intelligent decisions about when to schedule recording times.

“LG’s Pause & Play TVs are the first to pass both of the tests. Our products can be pre-programmed to record serials on a repeating basis, and can even automatically remove the advertisements. The TVs are also smart enough to know if a serial plays longer or shorter than scheduled and record it appropriately. When scheduled recordings overlap, the TVs search their programming guides to determine when the serial will be rebroadcast and schedule an alternate recording time,” said Mr. LEE.

LG’s Freeview Playback certified Pause & Play TVs will be available in the UK in late August. Three LCD models in 32-, 37- and 42-inch sizes and two plasma models in 42- and 50-inch sizes will be offered.

Link: LG Electronics