LG to offer limited FiOS TV lineup through connected TVs

LG (NYSE: LGL) is teaming up with Verizon (NYSE: VZ) to offer FiOS TV subscribers access to 26 channels through its line of connected TVs, including HBO, Nickelodeon, TBS, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Comedy Central and Hallmark Channel.

The deal, announced Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is similar to an agreement Verizon signed with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) last year to offer access to the same channels to subscribers that have an Xbox 360 gaming console.

The LG offer may appeal to some Verizon customers who will be able to access programs in rooms that don't contain a FiOS TV set-top. But with the limited amount of programming available through LG's connected TV and the Xbox, most FiOS subscribers that want access to TV programming in second room would probably opt for a second digital set-top from Verizon set-top supplier Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) which would offer access to its entire channel lineup, in addition to video-on-demand and multi-room DVR programming.

LG isn't the only consumer electronics manufacturer looking to offer pay TV content to connected TVs. Samsung (OTC: SSNLF.PK) announced a deal this week with DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) to deliver live TV and DVR programming to Samsung connected TVs without using a set-top. Its product relies on the RVU protocol. Panasonic (NYSE: PC) is also demonstrating an app at at the Consumer Electronics Show that allows Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) subscribers to access content from their subscriptions on connected TVs.

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