Sharp Teams with NBC on AQUOS Net-Enabled LCD TVs

Sharp, a provider of flat-panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) televisions, announced an agreement with NBC Universal (News - Alert) to bring NBCU content in the form of text and pictures to AQUOS Net connected TVs.

 

Sharp (News - Alert) AQUOS HDTV LCD TVs with AQUOS Net capability will allow users to access Web-based content from NBCU's portfolio. AQUOS Net is a gateway, available through the Ethernet on the television, to services like independently supplied Web-based content.

 

"We are eager to develop richer and deeper experiences for NBCU's audience and provide more engagement for our advertising partners using Sharp's AQUOS Net technology," stated Jean-Briac Perrette, president, NBCU Digital Distribution.

 

AQUOS Net TV viewers can view content like entertainment news from "Access Hollywood", iVillage's Astrology.com horoscopes or other NBCU network news like sports news in split-screen or full-screen mode. The NBCU widget takes to a Web page for recent breaking entertainment news and applications for CNBC and MSNBC. Also available is content from Weatherbug to check the local forecast, stock quotes from NASDAQ, Accedo Broadband for casual games, UCLICK for daily comic strips and AQUOS Gallery.

 

"AQUOS Net is customizable and can be upgraded easily, allowing us to add the broad family of content that NBCU provides," explained Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, product and marketing group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. "We are excited to add NBCU to our available services, giving users a wider range of entertainment choices, all without ever having to leave the TV."

 

AQUOS Net helps access customer support for television with AQUOS Advantage advisors which connect remotely to TVs to assist in adjusting the TV settings. This interactive tool is accessible from the AQUOS Net home page. FAQ's that explain HDMI connections are also available.

 

Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation (News - Alert), a developer of home entertainment products, appliances, networked multifunctional office solutions, solar energy solutions and mobile communication and information tools.