SEOUL, KOREA – Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics in February will begin the domestic sale of clear QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) TVs which enable direct reception of digital cable channels without the use of a set-top box. Major cable TV operators are also set to complete their technical preparations for set-top box free digital TVs (e.g. the prevention of overlapping channels, the automatic recognition of changes in channel frequencies, the standardization of EPG (Electronic Program Guides), etc.) by the end of March. The Korean government announced that the pilot run of clear QAM TV services will be carried out in June for low-income families. Within the first half of this year, clear QAM TV services are likely to be launched.
Samsung Electronics has decided to equip its new TV models with a clear QAM function in Korea while LG Electronics will embark on the sale of clear QAM TV models this month.
Clear QAM TV services, pursued mainly for the benefit of low-income families in Korea, are expected to push up the number of digital cable TV subscribers. Competition for subscribers among other pay television providers like IPTV and satellite TV operators is also likely to heat up.
**Article provided by etnews [Korea IT News]
[Reference] : http://english.etnews.com/electronics/2715655_1303.html
