Live From CES: LG Electronics Embraces OLED; Set to Demo ATSC 3.0 OTA Reception

LG Electronics (LG) introduced its newest flagship 4K HDR-enabled OLED TVs at CES (led by the flagship 77/65-inch G6 and 65/55-inch E6 models) and also plans to demonstrate ATSC 3.0 over-the-air reception at CES beginning tomorrow morning.

LG’s new OLED lineup has been certified by the UHD Alliance.

All eight new models will feature LG’s premium technologies including OLED displays, 4K resolution and high dynamic range, and all 2016 OLED TV models from LG feature the Ultra HD Premium seal of recognition from the UHD Alliance for meeting the demanding standards set by the industry organization for resolution, high dynamic range, peak luminance, black levels, wide color gamut and audio quality, among other criteria. The new TV lineup supports the industry-standard HDR formats established by the world’s leading broadcasters, film studios and consumer electronics manufacturers such as HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The G6 and E6 are the first TVs from LG to feature the company’s unique Picture-On-Glass design, which boast an ultra-thin 2.57mm OLED panel with a translucent glass back and forward-facing sound bar speaker system. By focusing on TV technologies directly related to picture and sound quality, both the G6 and E6 represent a whole new level of home entertainment innovation.

On OLED TVs, HDR becomes something else to behold, its capabilities enriched by OLED’s Pixel Dimming technology. Unlike LCD displays where the LED backlight locally dims entire sections of the screen, each pixel on an OLED panel can switch on and off independently. As a result, OLED TVs render crisp, vibrant colors and shadow details, even when bright objects are directly next to deep, dark areas. This ability ensures that images are displayed in perfect black as well as in vibrant colors, making OLED TVs the ideal medium for HDR content.

With 10-bit panel and 10-bit processing power, LG’s OLED TVs have access to more than a billion possible color options and ColorPrime Pro technology gives these TVs the ability to display the finest details of color and gradation. And with support for BT.2020, the next-generation standard for broadcast and distribution, the G6 and E6 are future-proof with a higher color reproduction rate.

Developed in partnership with high-end audio pioneer harman/kardon, the LG G6 and E6 are designed with a front-firing sound bar speaker system. With the speakers pointing forward, not downward like many thin TVs, viewers will hear clean, detailed audio without any distortion and reflection. The sound bar system is equipped with extra woofers to bolster the power of the speakers, setting LG OLED TVs apart from other stylish, ultra-thin TVs.

The 2016 OLED TV lineup come with the newest iteration of LG’s webOS content management platform. LG webOS 3.0 provides an exceptional user experience to help LG SMART TV users more intuitively navigate the TV’s many features. Since its commercial introduction in 2015, webOS has been praised as one of the most versatile smart TV platforms by major media titles. With enhanced mobile connectivity, remote features and more content options, LG webOS 3.0 is expected to appeal to even more discerning customers than its predecessor.

“Our 2016 OLED TV lineup features a long list of innovations, such as Picture-on-Glass design and HDR Pro which are prominent and key features in the G6 and E6 models,” said Brian Kwon, President and CEO at LG’s Home Entertainment Company. “By upping our OLED TV game every year, we are driving innovation in the TV space so that more consumers will see and hear about the benefits of owning an OLED TV. We think 2016 will be a game changer for this category.”

Embracing HDR, Over-the-Air

LG has also teamed up with major global content providers including Netflix and Amazon to help spur on additional HDR content distribution. Netflix and Dolby are collaborating with LG to offer an extensive library of high-quality DolbyVision HDR content. Owners of 2016 LG OLED 4K TVs can stream HDR content from Netflix on LG’s updated webOS 3.0 Smart TV platform later this year. And in cooperation with Amazon, LG OLED TV will offer the newest original HDR content via Amazon Video.

Of special significance to the global adoption of next-generation television broadcasting, LG receivers based on ATSC 3.0 Candidate Standards will receive 4K Ultra HD HDR content from KHMP-18, a Las Vegas broadcast television station, during the show. Developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee, ATSC 3.0 broadcasting leverages HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) video compression technology and improved transmission technology to deliver HDR 4K UHD signals over the air for the first time. LG technology is included in the majority of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer transmission system Candidate Standard, underscoring LG’s key role in next-generation broadcast standards for the United States, South Korea and other countries.

“We have always been dedicated to providing the latest technological benefits to consumers, and OLED represents the pinnacle of these efforts.” said Kwon. “By continuing to innovate, collaborating with other industry leaders and adopting the most promising cutting-edge technological advancements, LG will continue to lead in the global premium TV market.”

Introducing LG SUPER UHD

The new LG LED UHD lineup includes four series of sets.

LG Electronics also unveiled l “LG SUPER UHD,” a new premium line of 4K ultra HD TVs that will feature LG’s most advanced LCD/LED picture quality ever, with expanded color capabilities, advanced picture and sound-enhancing features including high dynamic range (HDR) and LG’s alluring Flat ULTRA Slim design.

The LG SUPER UHD line for the U.S. boasts four series, including the UH9500 (ranging in size from 55- to 86-inch class screen sizes), the UH8500 (ranging in size from 55- to 75-inch class screen sizes), and the UH7700 (ranging in size from 49- to 65-inch class screen sizes). Select models from the new 4K Ultra HD TV lineup will begin shipping in the U.S. in early spring.

The top-of-the-line UH9500, UH8500 and UH7700 LG SUPER UHD series boast an advanced IPS display with innovations such as True Black Panel and Contrast Maximizer for advanced picture quality at wide viewing angles. True Black Panel is a proprietary technology that minimizes reflections and enhances contrast ratio for a more comfortable viewing experience while Contrast Maximizer delivers more depth and contrast by separating objects from their backgrounds.

“We’re confident our 2016 HDR-enabled SUPER UHD TV will generate much excitement not only in the industry, but also with consumers in general,” said Kwon. “We are the only company with a dual strategy focused on both OLED and UHD TV technologies and this is proof that we’re committing to delivering the most advanced picture quality and home entertainment innovations to consumers around the world.”

LG SUPER UHD series have been designated as “HDR Plus” to indicate that these sets include technologies that enable them to show 4K HDR content with a greater sense of reality. HDR Plus combines LG’s ULTRA Luminance technology to boost peak brightness, improved black level performance and Color Prime technology to heighten HDR performance compared to sets that are only HDR compatible. Also included is an SDR-to-HDR conversation engine so viewers can enjoy near-HDR content from any standard source.

To enhance color reproduction, LG’s Color Prime Plus® is included on the UF9500 and UF8500 series. Color Prime Plus expands the palette of colors that can be displayed on the screen. Color Prime Plus uses a combination of a new, thicker color filter as well as new LCD phosphors to achieve approximately 90 percent of the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) color space. Another innovation, Billion Rich Colors, gives the LG SUPER UHD models the ability to render over one billion possible color variations for an even greater sense of realism.

The UH9500 employs a new design concept, making it even thinner than its predecessor. By reducing the gaps between the panel and back cover chassis, the ultra-thin 6.6mm (.22 inches) screen depth and near invisible bezels combine to give the appearance of the TV floating on air. And the UH9500 is second to none when it comes to sound. LG also worked with high-end audio pioneer harman/kardon® to develop a speaker system that could deliver high quality audio despite the thin profile. LG’s new Magic Sound Tuning function measures and analyzes the viewer’s environment and makes adjustments to customize the sound to the room’s specific conditions.

Similar to the UH9500 and UH8500 in features, the UH7700 also offers Color Prime, Billion Rich Colors, ULTRA Luminance and Contrast Maximizer housed in a slightly different design configuration. At CES, LG will also take the wraps off its first production-ready 98-inch 8K SUPER UHD TV (model UH9800).

The 2016 UHD TV lineup also comes with the newest generation of LG’s acclaimed webOS Smart TV platform. webOS 3.0 adds advanced new features to make finding and switching between LG’s expanded content options – including broadcast TV, streaming services and external devices – simple and fast.* With enhanced mobile connectivity, remote features and more content options – including those offering streaming HDR, LG webOS 3.0 makes it even simpler and more fun than ever for users to find and enjoy the content they want to watch.