MINNEAPOLIS, July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics today announced the first U.S. availability of the revolutionary new OLED HDTV, combining the pinnacles of picture quality and design to deliver the ultimate in display technology for home entertainment.

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At a VIP launch event today at Best Buy's flagship Magnolia Design Center store in Richfield, Minn., senior executives from LG Electronics USA and Best Buy officially introduced the new LG CURVED OLED TV for the U.S. market, allowing American consumers to enjoy the unparalleled visual experience in person.

As LG's exclusive OLED TV launch partner, Best Buy today began selling the 55-inch class (54.6-inch diagonal) LG CURVED OLED TV (Model 55EA9800) at the Richfield store. In the coming weeks, Magnolia stores inside Best Buy in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and San Antonio will display and begin selling the thin new premium TV at a suggested price of $14,999. Over the summer, the new TV is expected to roll out to select Magnolia inside Best Buy locations nationwide.

The U.S. launch solidifies LG's early lead in the OLED TV race. Global demand for OLED TV is expected to grow to more than 7 million units by 2016, according to DisplaySearch. LG is the first company to commercialize both the flat screen OLED TV, which has been sold to consumers in Korea since January, and the innovative new CURVED OLED TV, which began sales in Korea in April.

"The OLED TV experience is one that must absolutely be seen to be believed," said Jay Vandenbree, senior vice president, LG Electronics USA, and head of LG's U.S. home entertainment business. "The next-generation display technology and the ground-breaking ultra-thin curved design in the LG CURVED OLED TV results in an experience that is destined to be the benchmark for home viewing and TV design going forward. There's no better evidence that with LG, it's all possible."

For Best Buy, being first to launch OLED TV in the United States supports the retail giant's leadership strategy focused on offering the latest and greatest technology products.  

"Best Buy's promise to consumers is to be the one place where they will find the latest in home entertainment technology, and with today's launch of the LG CURVED OLED TV, we are continuing that tradition," said Mike Mohan, President, Home of Best Buy. "As the exclusive launch partner for the new TV, we are giving consumers first access to this OLED technology."

Exceptional Picture Quality and Design

At only 0.17 inches (4.3 millimeters) thin at the edge of the screen and weighing less than 38 pounds (17.2 kilograms), the new OLED TV produces astoundingly vivid and realistic images thanks to LG's proprietary WRGB technology. The unique WRGB four-color pixel system features a white sub-pixel that works in conjunction with conventional red, green and blue pixels to create the perfect color output. LG's exclusive Color Refiner delivers even greater tonal enhancement, resulting in images that are more vibrant and natural than anything seen before.

The LG CURVED OLED TV is the world's first OLED TV to achieve THX® Display Certification, signifying that it passed more than 600 THX laboratory tests to ensure it delivers the picture quality of a professional post production display.

OLED TV technology from LG Electronics delivers an infinite contrast ratio for optimal contrast levels regardless of ambient brightness or viewing angle. In addition to THX, three international testing and certification bodies, TUV Rheinland, Intertek and VDE, have recognized the LG CURVED OLED TV for its superb picture quality.

With its gently curved screen, the new LG CURVED OLED TV represents a unique design statement for discerning high-end consumers. This represents the first major design change in the industry since the widespread introduction of flat-panel TVs to the consumer marketplace more than a decade ago. With more than five years of research behind developing the optimal curvature, the LG CURVED OLED TV delivers an IMAX-like viewing experience in the home.

Complementing its unique screen design, the LG CURVED OLED TV features thin transparent film speakers in a handsome crystal clear stand, providing high-quality audio performance. The LG CURVED OLED TV took the top Red Dot "Best of the Best" honor at the prestigious 2013 Red Dot international design competition.

The LG CURVED OLED TV also benefits from the innovative features consumers have come to expect from LG: Smart TV capabilities with Magic Remote and Voice Recognition features to enable gesture and voice controls, and LG CINEMA 3D capabilities to enable a more immersive 3D viewing experience.

For more information on the LG CURVED OLED TV, visit http://www.lg.com/us/oled.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $45 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. LG Electronics, a proud 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions in the United States, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. www.lg.com

SOURCE LG Electronics USA, Inc.