LeTV launches world's largest 4K TV, seeks content from India, US


Details

Rebecca Hawkes

| 30 October 2015





China's LeTV has launched an enormous 120" 4K TV and its next generation 'superphone' in China, and is now encouraging content developers in India and the US to come forward.


The technology developer and online video business is looking to launch the new products in India and the US later this year, once local over-the-top (OTT) content deals have been reached.

LeTV's 120" television, named the uMax 120 (Ultimate Max 120), has 3840 x 2160 resolution and is said to be the world's largest 3D 4K TV.

"The movie industry in the world is growing rapidly. In this Internet age, we want to create a new way of watching movies. This is the reason for us to introduce this uMax 120," said Letv founder and CEO Jia Yueting.

The TV is manufactured by Taiwan's Foxconn, and includes features such as a built-in 3 GB RAM, 32 GB new standard high speed flash memory and a 1.4GHz quad core. It will be priced at RMB499,900.

"The unique aspect of this TV would be that the audience can watch it with a multi-angle approach, view anything on TV from any angle the user pleases to," said Jia.

The new Le 1S phone, meanwhile, will have 3GB RAM with 32GB ROM and a 13MP isocell sensor camera. It has a bezel-less design, an all-aluminium body and runs on a Helio X10 Turbo octal-core processor. The phone, which weighs 169g (less than an iPhone 6S), will be available in China from 3 November.

LeTV, whose aim is to integrate content, sports, TVs, phones, cars, Internet and finance, said its US-based competitor Apple has a "very closed" ecosystem and "needs to disrupt itself in order to improve". Among LeTV's other projects is a smart car partnership with Aston Martin.

LeTV has 5,000 employees and a market capitalisation of about US$12 billion on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, as well as a new US operation. Its core online video business in mainland China has a library of more than 100,000 TV series and 5,000 movies.

At the Beijing launch of the uMax 120 TV and Le 1S phone, Jia Yueting called for local partners to help replicate its content-device ecosystem in India, in providing Indian consumers with culturally relevant entertainment.

LeTV is considering establishing production lines and R&D centres in India in the long term. Such a strategy is likely be welcomed by the Narendra Modi-led government, which has been promoting its 'Make in India' strategy to international companies.