LG to licence webOS to TV makers

LG has announced that it has begun licencing its webOS TV platform ecosystem, and that the smart TV operating system will soon be found on third-party TVs to create a platform that promises to rival Android TV.

Over 20 TV makers will offer webOS-powered TVs including brands such as RCA, Ayonz and Konka, with more expected in the future. Applicable TV sets will be branded with a ‘powered by webOS TV’ logo on their marketing, and benefit from a large range of apps and streaming services.

LG said that the move, which has echoes of similar decisions from Amazon and Roku in recent years, “has the potential to reshape the TV business for both technology and content providers while significantly growing LG’s presence and prominence in the global home entertainment market.”

Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company, said: “The webOS platform is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to access millions of hours of movies and TV shows. By welcoming other manufacturers to join the webOS TV ecosystem, we are embarking on a new path that allows many new TV owners to experience the same great UX and features that are available on LG TVs. We look forward to bringing these new customers into the incredible world of webOS TV.”

The announcement comes weeks after LG announced a radical redesign to the webOS platform, including a redesigned layout that does away with the ‘blade’ lineup of apps along with an upgraded version of the ThinQ AI.