Samsung to offer one-touch interactive content feature on HDTVs

January 21, 2008 – Samsung has announced that it has partnered with newspaper USA Today to offer consumers up-to-the-minute access to news, weather, sports and stock information on their Internet-connected HDTV via a button on their remote control.

The InfoLink RSS feature will be offered on the new Series 6 and Series 7 LCD and plasma HDTVs and provide content direct from USA Today when users connect their TV set to the Internet via the built-in Ethernet port.  Pressing the dedicated button will bring up a semi-transparent menu overlay featuring selectable newsfeeds, while the TV feed will continue to run in the background.

“Samsung is always looking for new ways to integrate convenience and interactivity into its line-up of HDTVs,” said John Revie, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Marketing at Samsung Electronics America.  “For 2008, the next evolution of an integrated and connected home theatre experience exists with Samsung’s InfoLink RSS service, which creates an easy way for consumers to remain connected to the latest news from around the world, even while watching a favourite show, movie or sporting event.”

John Webber, Senior Vice President of Advertising for USA Today and Publisher of USATODAY.com, added: “The ability to deliver up-to-date news content to Samsung’s customers is just one more way USA Today is working to expand how people get news and information.”