LG Electronics Earns CableLabs(R) Certification for Two-Way Interactive Digital Cable HDTV

LG Electronics Earns CableLabs(R) Certification for Two-Way Interactive Digital Cable HDTV

Award-Winning Plasma HDTV Demonstrated at 2007 International CES

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Paving the way to integrated digital cable-ready HDTVs with two-way interactive capability, LG Electronics Inc.(LG) is showcasing a novel TV platform here this week at the 2007 International CES(R).

Viewed as a major milestone in cable's interactive digital evolution, this LG plasma HDTV has achieved Certification status as OCAP(TM)-enabled interactive digital television set, including the multi-stream CableCARD (M-Card) system, from a recently concluded certification by CableLabs(R).

LG Electronics' 42-inch OpenCable plasma HDTV set (42PC1DN) -- honored with a 2007 CES Innovations Award -- features built-in OCAP technology, M-Card capabilities and interactive capabilities, as well as high-definition content and interactive services like Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View. The LG 42PC1DN has been honored as a 2007 CES Innovations Award recipient.

This innovative retail device that can connect directly to a local cable TV system, and receive current advanced interactive cable TV services, as well as be ready for future interactive applications -- without the need for a separate digital set-top box (STB). Ultimately, a common nationwide platform for delivering interactive cable applications would be enabled by implementing the OpenCable(TM) specification, a process in which LG is an active contributor.

"We are committed to commercializing retail interactive digital cable-ready TVs and STBs to accelerate the rollout of OpenCable and OCAP across the North American Cable industry," said Choon Lee, LG Electronics vice president and head of LG DTV Laboratory.

"We now have advanced devices capable of receiving and displaying advanced cable services such as program guides and video-on-demand (VOD) without requiring separate cable STBs," Lee said. "In parallel with ongoing inter-industry standardization efforts, we will continue working with the cable industry to commercialize this platform."

Lee explained that LG's close collaboration with CableLabs and major cable TV operators has enabled the company to develop products that run innovative cable services including interactive program guide, VOD and other interactive applications and services. "At the same time, LG is continuing to explore additional new features to maintain product leadership and be a market differentiator," he said.

LG Electronics Inc. is one of the earliest companies that licensed technology from CableLabs to implement the required OCAP middleware and CableCard on its interactive DTVs and STBs.

"We congratulate LG on this major accomplishment which proves the viability for interactivity of the OCAP middleware and the OpenCable platform. LG's hard work and strong leadership in cable's digital transition are greatly appreciated," said Don Dulchinos, senior vice president of advanced platforms and manager of the OpenCable project at CableLabs.

ABOUT LG ELECTRONICS USA, INC.

Based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., LG Electronics USA, Inc., (LGEUS) is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $43.4-billion global force in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LGEUS sells a wide range of digital display and digital media products, digital appliances and mobile phones under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.LGusa.com.

ABOUT LG ELECTRONICS, INC.

LG Electronics, Inc. is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 72,000 people working in over 120 operations including 80 subsidiaries around the world. Comprising four business units -- Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media with 2005 global consolidated sales of US $43.4 billion -- LG Electronics is the world's largest producer of CDMA handsets, residential air conditioners, plasma panels, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems. For more information please visit http://www.lge.com/.

CableLabs(R), OpenCable(TM), OCAP(TM) and CableCARD are marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.

Source: LG Electronics Inc.

CONTACT: John I. Taylor of LG Electronics, Inc., +1-847-941-8181,
jtaylor@lge.com; or Nathan Friedman for LG Electronics, Inc., +1-312-397-6009,
nathan.friedman@ogilvypr.com

Web site: http://www.lgusa.com/
http://www.lge.com/

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