MILAN—With the Olympic Winter Games in full swing, Worldwide Olympic Partner TCL has announced that it is supplying advanced display technology and expertise for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), the central technical hub for global media coverage operated by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).

The company said it has provided large quantities of TV screens, as well as commercial display screens and a large-scale LED installation.

Additionally, TCL has equipped the IBC's visitor exhibition area with its latest flagship innovation, the groundbreaking TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV. Standing for Super Quantum Dot, it sets a new standard for display technology with unmatched brightness and contrast, exceptional color performance, an industry‑first, ultra‑slim, borderless design, and top‑tier audio.

TCL also provided its 65-inch televisions for the Main Press Center (MPC) to help the world's media follow every moment of the action, and additional TVs across Olympic venues.

TCL’s 55" screens play a vital role in supporting the "Athlete Moment," where athletes can see and speak with family and friends at home immediately after their events. By making it feel as though their loved ones are at their side, TCL's technology is helping to create powerful moments of connection and celebration throughout the Olympic Winter Games.

"We are delighted to welcome TCL as a Worldwide Olympic Partner,” explained Yiannis Exarchos, the CEO of OBS. “Only a select number of companies globally have the scale, capability, innovation, and technology required to meet the demands we face as the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games—and even fewer pair that with a deep understanding of Olympic values and the power of the Olympic Winter Games to bring people together."

Beyond supporting the competition and broadcast, TCL is also enhancing daily life in the Anterselva and Livigno Olympic Villages by providing smart home appliances, supporting athletes' comfort through technology thanks to the smart washing machines and dryers that keep competition gear fresh. Additionally, the Plaza of the Milano Olympic Village features a space showcasing TCL's latest innovations, including AI-enabled air conditioners and TCL RayNeo AR glasses. The glasses are the ideal partner for athletes as they offer real-time translation through augmented reality and can provide navigation cues and information as they explore Milan.

More of TV Tech's coverage of the technologies being used at the Olympics is available here.

Industry pundit Pete Putman weighed on the recent OEM agreement between TCL and Sony:

Well, I predicted this would happen...over 15 years ago. As the Japanese TV market slowly collapsed, egged on by the Great Recession, once-famous brands like Panasonic, Pioneer, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, and JVC either (a) stopped manufacturing TVs altogether and left the business, (b) OEM'ed televisions from Korean manufacturers (Samsung, LG) and Chinese manufacturers (TCL, Hisense, et al) and "private labeled" them, or (c) Washed their hands of the manufacturing end, but licensed their brands to Korean and Chinese manufacturers.

Profit margins on televisions plummeted over the past decade.

Both Samsung and LG were getting ready to shut down their LCD panel manufacturing facilities before the pandemic, but a surge in demand for everything from TVs to laptops and tablets kept those fabs open. Now, even the Korean giants shop in China for wholesale LCD panels and even finished TVs, with only LG's WRGB OLED fabs and Samsung's RGB OLED materials manufacturing still in operation.

Sony bragged for decades that they manufactured everything in the television chain, from cameras to TV screens. But even Sony was shopping for panels in the Chinese wholesale marketplace like everyone else. And their market share continues to slide year-over-year, with Samsung, TCL, Hisense, and LG together commanding over 90% of worldwide TV shipments.

Considering that 65-inch LCD panels for televisions can be bought for about $100 apiece (or less!) on the wholesale market (and TCL is one of the largest LCD panel manufacturers)—and you can buy an 4K 85-inch LCD TV for about $700 at BJ's and Costco—this deal was probably inevitable. Sony is slowly getting out of a lot of hardware businesses like laptops and audio gear. (They still are, by far, the world's biggest manufacturer of camera sensors, a very profitable business.)

The Bravia TV business was losing money 15 years ago and was spun off into a separate company from Sony Corporation because of that. I would not be surprised to see Sony eventually exit the TV manufacturing biz entirely, along with consumer audio, and just license their brand to a OEM company, like Hitachi, Toshiba, and JVC have done.

It's hard for some Japanese companies to admit when they've lost, but that's just the brutal economics of the TV biz nowadays. (And to think that 45+ years ago, we were still building and selling televisions in the U.S.!)

AUSTIN, Texas—Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced lawsuits against Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense and TCL Technology Group Corp., accusing them of secretly recording what Texans watch in their homes.

Hisense and TCL are both based in China, which Paxton’s office says raises serious concerns about consumer data harvesting. The situation is exacerbated by China’s National Security Law, which allows its government to collect data on U.S. consumers.

At issue is the use of Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which Paxton alleges unlawfully collects personal data. ACR software can capture screenshots of a user’s TV display every 500 milliseconds, monitor viewing in real time and transmit that information to the company without the knowledge or consent of viewers, the AG’s office said.

Consumer electronics companies can then sell the consumer data ACR collects to target ads across platforms for a profit. The attorney general alleges that the practice puts sensitive consumer information, such as passwords and bank information, at risk.

“Companies, especially those connected to the Chinese Communist Party, have no business illegally recording Americans’ devices inside their own homes,” said Paxton. “This conduct is invasive, deceptive and unlawful. The fundamental right to privacy will be protected in Texas because owning a television does not mean surrendering your personal information to Big Tech or foreign adversaries.”

The lawsuits against Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense and TCL are available online.

SAN FRANCISCO—TCL and Dolby Laboratories today saod support for Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is coming to TCL’s 2025 QD-Mini LED TVs in its Precise Dimming Series, including the QM8K, QM7K and QM6K models.

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect lets viewers place speakers anywhere they choose while optimizing the sound experience to fit any room layout or speaker configuration, Dolby said.

TCL will also introduce the Z100 smart panoramic sound speaker, designed to pair with TCL’s lineup of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled TVs. Starting this summer, customers can connect up to four Z100 speakers working alongside the TV speakers to create a tailored Dolby Atmos experience, TCL said.

“The launch of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect across TCL’s Precise Dimming Series marks a new chapter of personalized home audio experiences,” said John Couling, senior vice president of Entertainment at Dolby. “With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, consumers can unlock even more flexibility and adaptability in how they design their home entertainment systems, while removing the stress of whether their speakers are in the right location to get an incredible Dolby Atmos experience.”

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect enables viewers to place one or more wireless speakers anywhere in a room without worrying if they are placed perfectly. The solution is easily adaptable as more devices are added, regardless of where they are placed, intelligently optimizing the Dolby Atmos rendering of each speaker and the TV to create the best possible experience, the companies said.

“TCL and Dolby share a long history of redefining home entertainment,” said Chris Hamdorf, executive vice president at TCL North America. “TCL’s entire 2025 4K TV lineup sport[s] Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. All of our full-feature sound bars use Dolby Atmos, and soon we’ll have Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. FlexConnect empowers customers to enjoy a premium immersive audio experience that’s tailored to their unique preferences and spaces.”

More information is available on the Dolby and TCL websites.

IRVINE, Calif.—TCL has announced an expansion of its partnership with the NFL that will see the NFL FAST channel and AVOD programs added to its streaming service TCLtv+. 

Last year, TCL inked a multiyear sponsorship deal with the NFL to become its Official TV. 

The NFL Channel on TCLtv+ offers more than 500 hours of original and live programing, such as the NFL Report, NFL GameDay Preview, weekly game highlights, full game replays and an always-on channel ticker with year-round NFL news coverage will be featured on the TCLtv+ app available on all TCL Google TVs. 

NFL Channel's coverage of NFL Draft in April will be the first major event for the NFL Channel and AVOD programs on TCLtv+.

"TCL's expanded partnership with the NFL enhances the overall fan experience, driven by our leading technology and combined with the immense power of the NFL brand. Our world-class innovation and cutting-edge big screens offer sports fans compelling, immersive content that brings them closer to the action," said Mark Zhang, president, TCL North America. "As one of the best-selling TV brands in the U.S, TCL is dedicated to delivering premium entertainment to its customers and this NFL extension fulfills that promise."

The NFL Channel and AVOD content join the robust slate of programming recently added to the TCLtv+ streaming app, which is currently available on TCL Google TV and will soon be available on all other TCL Connected TVs in the United States and Canada. 

TCLtv+'s free service now includes more than 300 FAST Channels, and growing, as well as thousands of premium film and TV series from major and independent networks and studios such as Fox, A&E, NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, Scripps Media, Fremantle, FilmRise, Banijay and more.

"TCL's unique collaboration with the NFL offers an unmatched slate of content offerings that puts fans first. The TCLtv+ app engages sports fans with a robust variety of content, striking a balance of the latest news headlines from around the League, coupled with legacy titles, marathons, and in-depth analysis," said Haohong Wang, general manager, TCL Research America. "The addition of the NFL FAST Channel and NFL AVOD offerings highlights our unique approach to content collaboration with our trusted partners." 

LAS VEGAS—In the run-up to the start of CES2024, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has announced that another prominent television manufacturer is joining the NextGen TV bandwagon, with TCL planning new TV models equipped with integrated NextGen TV capability.  

The group also reported that more than 100 NextGen TV products will be available for U.S. consumers this year and highlighted growing sales of 3.0 capable gear. 

The Consumer Technology Association announced industry results for 2023 sales and projections for the coming year, with the cumulative U.S. installed base of NextGen TV receivers topping 10.3 million and consumer sales of NextGen TV products expected to increase by 45% in 2024.  

In addition to TV models from Sony, Samsung, Hisense, and TCL, the number of available accessory receiver models is expected to double in 2024, to offer consumers with existing TV sets several affordable options for upgrades.

“ATSC is delighted to have more than two dozen broadcasters, technology companies, and networks supporting our CES exhibit this year,” said Madeleine Noland, president of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).  “With U.S. NextGen TV market launches in 2024 coming soon for Chicago, San Diego, and Tucson, we’re projecting that NextGen TV will cross the 75% household reach milestone in February – a significant achievement that also will mark 75 Nielsen broadcast markets with service. 

“Now that broadcasters have reached this important milestone, attention turns to strengthening the number of available consumer receivers and improving the viewing experience  – both of which are being showcased at the ATSC exhibit this year at CES,” she continued. “We are delighted to add TCL to the list of TV makers offering NextGen TV, joining Sony, Samsung, and Hisense. And with ADTH, Stavix, Zapperbox, and Zinwell planning to offer NextGen TV certified and security verified receivers, including some with digital video recording capability, this year is shaping up to be a big one for consumer choice,” Noland said.

“ATSC 3.0 has a global impact, too. South Korea and Jamaica are both on-air with ATSC 3.0. Trinidad & Tobago will transition in 2025. Both Brazil and India are evaluating ATSC 3.0 as a technology that can handle different technological challenges, and discussions are underway in a number of other countries that are looking for the most flexible broadcast system that easily adapts to changing needs and behaviors,” Noland added. 

The group also noted that in terms of Upgrade Accessory Receivers, four models are on display at the ATSC booth, offering a range of affordable options to consumers as they reach retail availability in 2024. Those include: 

• ADTH introduced its set-top receiver certified to use the CTA’s NextGen TV logo and verified for A3SA content security last summer, and recently expanded retail availability of its receiver through Walmart.com.
• Stavix is new to the receiver market, planning a device that will be available later this year.
• Zapperbox offers both single-tuner and dual-tuner models, including a digital video recording features with the addition of a memory card in the device.
• Zinwell is showing the first NextGen TV upgrade receiver that will operate without needing an internet connection for security verification.

The group also highlighted several features driving ATSC 3.0 adoption and outlined some of the demonstrations that will be available at CES. Those include:   

• Immersive Entertainment Experiences: Dolby Laboratories is showcasing the power of immersive entertainment through the broadcast experience. Dolby Atmos, via NextGen TV, features fully immersive accessibility, including audio description and dialog enhancement, along with High Dynamic Range (HDR) video like Dolby Vision, delivering spectacular experiences from dramas to live sports. 
• Expanding Over-the-Air OTA Sports: Local stations are now carrying games from more favorite sports teams, underscoring the popularity of live sports viewing where every screen feels like the best seat at the stadium.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR):  With broadcasters expected to offer more natively-produced HDR sports programming in 2024, the exceptional picture quality of HDR will be showcased with ATSC exhibit demonstrations from Dolby, Technicolor and HDR10+:
• Advanced HDR by Technicolor brings NextGen TV viewers the ultimate experience with vibrant, live video in HDR. At the ATSC booth, attendees will see a demonstration of Advanced HDR by Technicolor content and its innovative single-stream HDR/SDR distribution, now available all day, every day from Sinclair on NextGen TV. 
• HDR10+ Technologies LLC, an industry group with more than 150 adopters, is showing HDR video enhanced with HDR10+ Dynamic Metadata. This is shown with sports programming from FOX SPORTS encoded using a real-time ATEME encoder. HDR with dynamic metadata can be broadcast today, even with material originated in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), without impact on workflow or bandwidth.
• Better TV with Broadcast IP: A key capability of NextGen TV is the flexibility of using the ATSC 3.0 standard’s interoperability with internet-delivered content. Demonstrations at the ATSC booth will show how broadcast IP can be used by local stations to offer more choices to viewers, advanced emergency information, unique broadcast “start over” functions, and more navigation services such as enhanced weather and additional streaming choices launched from the broadcaster’s own application platform.  
• Using the broadcast and broadband functionality of the ATSC 3.0 standard, a suite of new music video channels will be announced at CES that bring app-like interactive music features to broadcast TV for the first time with the support of one of America’s largest broadcasters.
• Global Reach:  Regulators in Brazil are evaluating the physical transmission layer of ATSC 3.0 this coming spring, having already chosen many other ATSC 3.0 technologies for their new system. India is looking at ATSC 3.0 as a potential method of transmitting television to mobile devices – by far the most prevalent way that people watch TV in that country.
• At CES, Saankhya Labs is announcing several new TV accessories, powered by the company’s demodulator. Saankhya is working closely with the government of India for a nationwide rollout of Direct-to-Mobile video services that would utilize ATSC 3.0.
• Jamaica’s new consumer-facing advertising campaign for NextGen TV will be on display as the country embarks on a broad-reaching consumer awareness campaign for its ongoing launch of ATSC 3.0 services. The campaign will include TV, radio, print and outdoor messaging.
• Future Forward: ATSC 3.0 promises to revolutionize more than just the television viewing experience. Sinclair will showcase the capabilities of ATSC 3.0 to deliver advanced and personalized audio services to the automobile, highlighting the mobile capability of the broadcast standard. 
• The Nexus Connect Connect exhibit features a dynamic marketplace ecosystem where industry players come together, discover exciting new intelligent applications and services, and deliver immersive, interactive, and personalized television experiences to viewers. 

ATSC exhibit sponsors for CES 2024 include: Sinclair, Dolby, Nexus Connect, Pearl TV, A3SA, ADTH, Alticast, Amlogic, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, LG, MediaTek, Public Media Venture Group, Rohde & Schwarz, Roxi, Saankhya Labs, Samsung, Sony, Stavix, Advanced HDR by Technicolor, Televes, Zapperbox, Zinwell, and television networks ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

ATSC is exhibiting in booth 19744 of the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center between Jan. 9 to 12 at the annual CES technology event.

SAN FRANCISCO—Dolby Laboratories has unveiled Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, a new Atmos feature that seamlessly pairs a television’s sound system with wireless speakers to make it easier for consumers to enjoy an immersive audio experience. TV manufacturer TCL will be the first to add the new feature to its 2024 TV lineup, Dolby said.

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect intelligently optimizes the sound for any room layout and speaker setup to ensure the best performance. TCL also will launch a line of wireless speakers designed to complement its 2024 TVs with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, the company said.

“Consumers shouldn’t have to move their furniture to experience better audio, but rather audio should adapt to them,” said John Couling, senior vice president of entertainment at Dolby. “Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is an entirely new category of experience that offers consumers the freedom and flexibility to choose how they want to arrange their devices while still getting a great immersive Dolby Atmos experience.”

Calling Dolby Atmos FlexConnect “a significant step forward” on the road to immersive audio, Frédéric Langin, chief commercial officer of TCL Europe, said the new feature is consistent with TCL’s mission to deliver “great experiences for our customers.”

“With Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, users can unlock incredible immersive sound no matter how they arrange their audio devices. We can’t wait to introduce the world to this new tailored sound experience with our upcoming lineup of TVs and accessory wireless speakers,” he said.

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect enables consumers to place one or more wireless speakers anywhere in a room without having to worry about whether they are placed perfectly. It is also easily adaptable when more device types are added, Dolby said.

Once calibrated, the system combines each accessory device with the TV’s speakers to unlock the best sound performance and deliver a Dolby Atmos sound experience tailored to the consumer’s home.

Dolby and TCL will show Dolby Atmos FlexConnect at IFA 2023 in Berlin. The demonstration will be powered by MediaTek’s Pentonic Smart TV series chipset.

More information about the collaboration on the launch of Dolby Atmos FlexConnect will be available on YouTube (@TCLElectronics), Aug. 29 at 8 a.m. EDT.

More information is available on the Dolby and TCL websites.

NEW YORK—Amagi has announced that it has been selected by TCL to support new streaming options for TCL TV users in the U.S. 

Using a variety of solutions from Amagi, the two companies said that TCL will be able to simplify and speed up the launch of new channels on its streaming platform. 

As part of the improvements to its streaming platform, TCL is using Amagi CONNECT, the global end-to-end Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) marketplace; the Amagi THUNDERSTORM server-side dynamic ad insertion platform; and the Amagi ADS PLUS premium CTV advertising marketplace. 

Channels can be delivered to the TCI platform via direct agreements already in place with content partners, with Amagi managing server-side ad insertion (SSAI), content delivery networks (CDNs), and actual delivery. 

Alternatively, through Amagi CONNECT, TCL can request and launch multiple channels without needing a direct agreement with each content partner. Reducing the need for external legal and onboarding resources, Amagi CONNECT has lowered the cost and complexity of launching upward of 100 channels on the platform. Amagi ADS PLUS will represent the advertising inventory exclusively for all Amagi CONNECT channels delivered via the partnership, the company reported. 

"With continued innovation and leadership, and Amagi as a trusted technology partner, TCL is launching a broader range of content channels with unprecedented speed and agility for its new high-performance smart TVs," said Haohong Wang, general manager, TCL Research America. "Key relationships with technology partners such as Amagi ensure that we're delivering world-class products and experiences. The company's cutting-edge solutions have streamlined our operations and enabled us to bring an extensive range of high-quality programming to viewers more efficiently than ever."

"We're proud to partner with TCL once again to support the brand's streaming capabilities reach its full potential," said Srinivasan KA, co-founder and chief revenue officer at Amagi. "This is an important new partnership for Amagi, and we look forward to seeing it grow along with the launch and success of the improved TCL platform."

Amagi's other global clients include ABS-CBN, AccuWeather, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, Cineverse, Cox Media Group, Crackle Plus, Fremantle, Gannett, Gusto TV, NBCUniversal, PAC-12, Tastemade, The Roku Channel and Vice Media, among others.

For more information about Amagi and its streaming TV solutions is available at www.amagi.com. 

LOS ANGELES—TCL and Cineverse Corp. have announced a new content and technology partnership that will see Cineverse's Matchpoint technology platform providing content services for new TCL televisions in North America.

As a result of the deal,  Cineverse will become one of the few content aggregators that provides key ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) programming as well as provide key content aggregation services.  

Cineverse will offer its full portfolio of free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels to TCL users.  In addition, the Cineverse Ad Solutions team will work closely with TCL and its partners to provide new advertising sales revenue opportunities, the companies said. 

"As a top 2 best-selling TV brand in the U.S. for four consecutive years, TCL's growth has certainly benefited from the increasing adoption of smart TVs but our continued success is largely due to the company's innovation, vertical integration and vital partners like Cineverse," said Mark Zhang, president, TCL North America.  "Since we launched in North America, we have been laser focused on becoming one of the most popular electronics brands with our award-winning product lineup. TCL listens to what our users value and it's clear that consumers desire more options when it comes to entertainment, so we're excited to expand our programming through this premium multi-channel streaming service."

Cineverse will offer TCL users access to the Company's full portfolio of 30 streaming brands and FAST channels including content curated from Cineverse, the company's flagship streaming service.  In addition to the FAST channels, Cineverse offers more than twelve thousand movies and TV episodes available on demand for free. The content will be available starting later this year on new TCL devices released within the U.S., Cineverse reported. 

"As one of the world's top television brands, we are thrilled to have TCL as our first OEM SaaS partner,” said Cineverse's COO and CTO Tony Huidor. “As we continue to expand the capabilities of our Matchpoint platform we are excited to provide tremendous efficiencies and provide key backend support to TCL as they look to scale and expand their position in the streaming entertainment ecosystem. As a strategic partner to TCL, we are committed to providing and jointly developing innovative, best-in-class services for consumers of their industry-leading televisions and mobile phones."

CORONA, Calif.—The consumer electronics maker TCL has announced it has been named the Official TV Partner of the NFL. 

The multi-year sponsorship partnership is part of TCL’s efforts to strengthen its brand as one of the top TV brands in North America and promote its big-screen TV lineup to the NFL’s massive fanbase. 

It also reflects the importance of sports viewing as a driver of sales of large-screen TVs. 

"As TV and sports have long been a winning marriage, becoming the Official TV Partner of the NFL gives TCL a strategic partnership to affirm its formula for success - high quality, unmatched performance, and exceptional value among consumers who expect the best," said Chris Hamdorf, senior vice president, TCL North America. "As we just proved at CES, our brand has grown globally and as our product offering expands beyond home theater, we are confident that aligning with the NFL will bolster our brand recognition and are thrilled to have them as a key partner to kick off this next chapter for TCL."

"The NFL is excited to welcome TCL as our Official TV Partner and look forward to our fans enjoying their technology through a superior television experience. Our broadcasts can only look as good as the TVs they're displayed on which makes TCL's products truly meaningful to the NFL experience," said Nana-Yaw Asamoah, senior vice president of partnership strategy and new business for the NFL. "The NFL spends a lot of time evaluating potential partners to ensure their products, performance, and culture match our standard for excellence and TCL is a perfect fit. We look forward to helping them continue to grow their brand recognition and business."

CORONA, Calif.—Consumer electronics manufacturer TCL has announced that Roku has added The Explorers 8K Channel to the entertainment lineup on TCL’s 6-Series 8K TCL Roku TVs.

Earlier this year, TCL launched its first 8K TV in North America with Roku with the 6-Series 8K TCL Roku TV models. Those TVs are currently the only 8K smart TVs built around the Roku platform and operating systems in the U.S. 

The launch of The Explorers 8K premium nature documentary channel adds to the 8K resolution videos from YouTube that were already available to owners of the 6-Series 8K TCL Roku TVs. 

TCL also indicated that more 8K content was on the way. 

Chris Larson, senior vice president of TCL explained that “launching TCL’s first 8K resolution TVs in North America this year in partnership with Roku was very significant. We’re making 8K more accessible with our premium televisions, and we are also making bold moves with Roku to ensure there is 8K resolution content out there for our users to enjoy. And with the growing availability of 8K content such as The Explorers, TCL’s deep vertical integration of TV panel production allows the easily-accessible 6-Series 8K TV to deliver powerfully sharp picture performance with impressive immersion. As consumers continue to adopt larger screens for their homes, the need for greater screen resolution becomes more apparent. So TCL will continue to innovate, work closely with the 8K Association, and serve entertainment enthusiasts advanced technology as we enter this next stage of 8K discovery, with new game consoles and streaming services rolling out.”

Available in 65” (65R648) and 75” (75R648), the 6-Series 8K TCL Roku TV have received several prestigious product review awards, including Editor’s Choice in both Digital Trends and TechHive.

The Explorers, supported by Kering, is a global project that takes inventory of the natural, cultural and human heritage of the Earth, in Ultra High Definition (8K / 4K / HD) images, the companies said. 

The Explorers 8K premium subscription service – normally priced at $2.99/month, with 10% of revenues donated to The Explorers Foundation to protect biodiversity – is available through an exclusive limited-time offer to owners of 8K Roku TV models at no cost for the first three months, the companies said. 

“We are excited to know that the transformative beauty of The Explorers Earth Inventory will now be available at the maximum resolution and quality in homes through the TCL 6-Series 8K Roku TV,” said Olivier Chiabodo, CEO of The Explorers. “A company like TCL bringing televisions with 8K resolution to the market at a compelling value is transformative – it means a bigger audience could have access to our growing 8K content library. I believe the decision to partner with an accomplished leader in TV display technology and enabling those viewers to experience the visual majesty of our beautiful planet captured by The Explorers will be very rewarding.”

NEW YORK—Samsung has maintained, and even grown, its position as the top provider of smart TVs in the U.S., according to the latest report from Statista. According to Statista, Samsung holds a 32% share of the smart TV marketplace.

That 32% is up from 31% in 2019. Samsung has had or has nearly had a third of the market since 2017, per Statista.

The next closest company behind Samsung is Alcatel/TCL, which makes up 14% of the market. Vizio, at 13%, rounds out the top three. This is the first time that the Chinese manufacturer TCL has surpassed Vizion.

For more information, visit Statista’s website. 

CES 2019 will be marked as the true debut of 8K television.

In Las Vegas, four TV makers — LG, Samsung, Sony and TCL — announced they'd be shipping 8K big screen models to North American retailers this year, like it or not, ready or not. Other brands, including Changhong, Hisense, Sharp and Skyworth, fronted their LVCC booths with 8K prototypes, likely waiting to gauge sales by the top tier brands before announcing their own U.S. 8K product plans.

8K ON DISPLAY AT 2019 CES

While there was boastful excitement amongst the 8K TV vendors in Las Vegas — several banded together at CES to form the 8K Alliance — excitement among retailers, the industry and consumers at large is questionable.

This lack of excitement is reflected by 8K sales forecasts. CTA projects than 200,000 8K TVs would be sold in the U.S. this year compared to projected sales of 22.2 million 4K sets, growing to a mere 1.5 million 8K units in 2022. But there are those who believe these and other similar 8K forecasts are optimistic. A couple of months ago, Samsung forecast North America 8K sales of just 100,000 units in 2019, and only 759,000 sets in 2022.

"8K [is] just another distraction encouraging customers to second guess that aspirational 4K purchase," opined Robert Cole, founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based World Wide Stereo. "My guys on the floor learned quickly not to lead with the 8K story. The presentation was more about it being future-proof with the best technology available. As more 8K TVs are released, the story will evolve."

“Considering there is no content for 8K at the moment and the technology hasn't been standardized, making the leap isn't for everyone,” agreed Jon Abt, co-president of Glenview, Ill.-based Abt Electronics, which has sold around a dozen of the first Samsung 8K model. "It's certainly at a very early adopter stage at the moment, but the upscaling from 4K is promising for today's buyers. There will be an influx of sets in 2019 at lower price points, which should open the market up.”

“We were one of two retailers in Texas to receive Samsung’s first 8K TV," said Kris Dybdahl, VP of Bjorn’s Audio Video. "We have sold one or two already to our early adopters. It looks great with the internal 8K demo content, as well as the up-converted content that we play on it on a daily basis.

"However, in a perfect world I wish the manufacturers would have held off a little while longer before trotting out 8K," Dybdahl continued. "By bringing 8K out so quickly after 4K, when most people still don’t have a 4K set yet, I think causes confusion in the customers mind — even the possibility of should I wait to see if there will be 16K?”

Here's a rundown of the 8K sets announced at CES and scheduled to go on sale this year:

LG: Five 8K models are coming from LG in the second half of 2019, with pricing likely coming in June: the 88-inch Z9 OLED, and four LCD-based NanoCell models — SM80, SM85, SM90 and SM95. All five LG 8K sets will be imbued with the company's ThinQ smart home platform and Google Assistant, DolbyVision HDR and LG's next-gen Alpha 9 processor designed to enhance up-conversion.

Samsung: First to market with 8K last fall, Samsung has already started pre-sales on four new QLED 8K models, all equipped with HDR10+, adaptive brightness and sound technologies, as well as Apple AirPlay 2 and iTunes support: a 65-inch ($4,999), 75-inch ($6,999), 82-inch ($9,999) and 85-inch ($14,999). Samsung also displayed a 98-inch QLED model, but with no word on when or how much.

Sony: The company silently debuted 85- and 98-inch versions of its XBR Master Series Z9G 8K Android TV LCD models. While both sets are already listed on the company's web site, there is no word on when or how much.

TCL: As its CES press event, TCL announced two models — a 75-inch Roku-enabled 8-Series set equipped with QLED and quantum contrast technologies and a Roku hardware reference design that TCL is the first to license, as well as the Q10 QLED Android TV. Only the Roku 8K model is scheduled to be sold in the U.S., however, but in what potential additional sizes, when and at what price TCL hasn't said. 

Pictured: LG's Z9 OLED

LAS VEGAS—Four major consumer electronics companies this week at the 2019 International CES announced the formation of the 8K Association (8KA) with a variety of stated goals, including the promotion of 8K televisions and content.

The founding members include Hisense, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics and TCL Electronics. Samsung Display is in the process of joining the association.

The companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding to advance their common vision, the association said.

“The 8K Association will not only provide an effective introduction to 8K technology but will also accelerate the beginning of the 8K era,” said Hyogun Lee, executive vice president of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By leading the early stages of ecosystem development, Samsung will further solidify its global leadership in the 8K market.”

Besides promoting 8K TV and content, the association will: educate consumers and professionals about the 8K ecosystem; work to secure 8K content for members; encourage OTT and other content distributors to develop 8K offerings; facilitate communications towards promoting commercialization of 8K; develop initial technical requirements for 8K input signals; and develop 8K categories and minimum image quality specifications, 8KA said.

[Read: CES 2019 TV Intros: Go Big Or Go Home]

The early focus of the association will be to support early commercialization and adoption of 8K TVs.

Japanese state broadcaster NHK has actively pursued 8K technology development, production and distribution with the goal of delivering the 2020 Olympics in the 8K resolution. 

Michiko Ogawa, Executive Officer of Panasonic noted the December 2018 launch of 8K satellite broadcasting in Japan, adding that “Panasonic strongly expect[s] this association will lead the 8K ecosystem creating both business opportunities and consumer benefits.”

More information is available on the 8K association website.

TV suppliers are turning to big screens and advanced display technologies to bolster ASPs and improve earnings at CES 2019, where 8K TVs, improved contrast ratios, voice assistants, and new display technologies such as micro LED and rollable OLED are front and center.

The first roll-up TV — a 65-inch LG OLED model — is making its debut along with a greater selection of LCD TVs with quantum-dot WCG technology.

During the first 10 months of 2018, the retail ASPs of U.S. LCD TVs were flat year over year, with both dollar volume and unit sales up 3 percent, The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service found. LCD accounted for the vast majority of North American flat-panel shipments in 2018, or 98.4 percent of 42.6 million units, IHS Markit said.

Stay up to date on all things CES with one-click access to our CES Hub.

Continuing growth in demand for larger screen sizes could help boost ASPs in 2019, when sizes of 50 inches and up will account for almost 100 percent of North American 4K/8K TV shipments, said IHS Markit executive director Paul Gagnon. Among all TVs, sales of 60 inches and larger will increase faster in 2019 to account for 23 percent of all North American TV shipments, thanks to rapidly declining costs of 65-inch panels.

Big-display demand will help stoke 8K demand, Gagnon noted. 8K resolution will be more apparent on big screens that also reduce pixel visibility when viewers are close. Chris Larson, TCL’s North America senior VP, expects 8K “will be represented by all major brands” in the U.S. in 2019, though IHS expects 8K shipments to account for only 0.1 percent (or 42,700) of 42.7 million TVs shipped in North America.

Although native 8K video in noticeable quantities might be a few years away, 8K TVs will use up-scaling technology that has improved dramatically to deliver 8K resolution from HD sources, said Gagnon. Content from 8K cameras can also be displayed, as can a few 8K YouTube videos.

In Japan in December, NHK launched an 8K satellite channel, but David Mercer of Strategy Analytics said “expectations for 8K services should be cautious.” The rest of the world “will be slower to follow suit, given that the number of homes with 8K-ready TVs will remain low until the mid 2020s.”

Despite the excitement surrounding 8K TV, added Strategy Analytics director David Watkins, “It is important to remember that image resolution, whether native or otherwise, is only one element in perceived video quality, and TV vendors and content players alike should not lose focus on other important drivers of consumer satisfaction, such as high dynamic range (HDR) and high frame rate (HFR).”

At CES, 8K launches include LG’s first two SKUs (an 88-inch OLED and 75-inch LCD) and a 98-inch Samsung LCD. They join Samsung’s $15,000 85-inch LCD. TCL is demoing a 75-inch 8K LCD and plans 2019 shipments of an 8K model, expected to feature 8K-capable HDMI 2.1 inputs. Samsung’s current 8K TV features an outboard HDMI switching box that can be swapped for a future HDMI 2.1 version.

8K screen sizes could trickle down below 75 inches in the U.S., said TCL's Larson, but “anything below 65 inches will be a challenge in a real-use environment.”

See: TV At CES 2019: 8K Is 'Getting Real'

Nonetheless, Nanosys sales/marketing VP Russell Kempt expects some suppliers to push LCD-based 8K into more mainstream sizes down to 55 inches in coming years. OLED displays, however, will be challenged to bring 8K to anything but “very large form factors.”

In other big-screen developments, LG is expanding its selection of 70-inch-plus sizes, Samsung is launching a 98-inch 8K model, Philips is showing a 75-inch 4K Android TV, and TCL is bringing back a 75-inch SKU (at less than $1,800 MAP).

Here’s what else to expect:

MICRO LED

Select suppliers will demo micro LED displays, which use emissive red, green and blue LEDs to create 4K color images. Each LED can be turned off to deliver perfect blacks and improved contrast, with faster response times and better off-axis viewing, compared to LED-lit LCD displays. Samsung is showing a smaller, 75-inch version of last year's 146-inch Wall TV. The Wall is available for commercial and custom residential applications. Sony showed a pro model at the CEDIA Expo.

CONTRAST

Full-array local dimming (FALD) will spread to more LED-backlit 4K LCD TVs in 2019 to improve contrast ratios. “Almost all premium LCD sets at about $1,500 and up will transition to FALD in 2019,” predicted Kempt of Nanosys. “We can achieve excellent contrast that a couple years ago people didn’t think possible with LCD technology.” In a new flagship 8 series, TCL is offering 300 percent more zones versus 120 and 96 in its 65- and 55-inch 6 series SKUs, respectively. Select 2018 Sony and Samsung TVs sport around 500 zones, and Vizio offers up to 192. 

MINI LED BACKLIGHTS 

With new mini LED backlights, more LCD TVs will feature thousands of FALD zones, Nanosys’s Kempt said. Samsung features thousands of zones in its current 85-inch 8K TV. TCL is demoing thousands of zones. Other demos might be private.

Mini LEDs are smaller than typical LEDs but larger than micro LEDs. 

More TV suppliers at CES will build far-field microphones for digital assistants into the chassis of select TVs rather than deliver voice control solely through a remote with built-in near-field mic. At a minimum, TVs with embedded far-field mics will be available later in 2019 from TCL and Philips, joining Sony models.

Separately, LG will offer three voice assistants — Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and proprietary ThinQ — in all new 4K smart TVs, with voice control delivered by a mic-equipped remote. ThinQ delivers voice control over more TV functions than other assistants alone provide, the company said.

BRIGHTNESS, GAMUT

More TVs will get closer to delivering 100 percent of DCI-P3 color gamut, delivered by 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming services. TCL plans its first U.S. TVs with gamut-widening quantum-dot displays sometime in 2019 in multiple screen sizes. “In 2019, quantum dot delivers the right performance for the cost for mainstream consumers,” said TCL North America SVP Chris Larson.

Attendees will likely find more 4K LCD TVs with peak brightness levels of 4,000 nits, as delivered by Samsung’s current 8K TV. One of the brightest 4K displays has been a 2,000-nit 65-inch Vizio TV.

As quantum-dot costs fall, added Kempt of quantum-dot supplier Nanosys, “it is now becoming possible for set makers to waterfall the technology across their product lineups.” As a result, by the end of 2018, “we’re beginning to see quantum-dot technology entering the mainstream market for TVs with several 65-inch TV products available below $1,500.” 

HDMI 2.1

At least one more company, LG, is adding select HDMI 2.1 features to TVs. All LG OLEDs and three top LCD series add 2.1’s variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and eARC. Sony added them to select TVs in 2018.

Let Your Voice Be Heard At The CES Social Hub!

BERLIN—TCL and QD Vision, in collaboration with TCL subsidiary CSTO, have developed a television that produces more than 90 percent of the Rec. 2020 color gamut standard for UHD displays. This technology, which will be on display at the upcoming IFA show in Berlin, was achieved with QD Vision’s Color IQ quantum dot technology.

The Rec. 2020 standard includes a color gamut nearly twice the size of the current industry standard. Rec. 2020 is expected to increase the color gamut by approximately 90 percent and specifies a 10-bit and 12-bit color bit depth.

QD Vision’s edge-lit approach offers a combination of efficiency, reliability and spectral purity to accommodate the Rec. 2020 standard. The Color IQ quantum dot technology is spectrally pure and tunable.

The TCL booth at IFA is booth 102, in hall 21. IFA runs from Sept. 4-9 in Berlin.