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Korea in the digital vanguard

by Kevin (Kilmo) Kang, Korea

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PlayStation 3 becomes IPTV settop box in Korea

Nov 21, 2007 16:32

KT (Korea Telecom) has started MegaTV for the PlayStation 3 (IPTV service) in Korea since yesterday. KT is the second Korean IPTV service provider after Hanaro TV which runs Hanaro Telecom. This service was announced during KES 2007 and actual service started from November 20.

This happens only in Korea where you are able to use the PS3 as your IPTV settop box. Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) has developed a software called Broadcasting Engine which allows the PS3 to support the full-HD2 resolution of the IPTV service. This service is now a world first for Korea. Also, SCEK said the customer is able to connect to the Internet to do some Web surfing while watching TV. This mean various related services can be generated by this PS3 settop box.

Those existing PS3 users are also able to join this service with a simple procedure. You just need to upgrade the firmware to V2.0 and click on the MegaTV icon which is created in the XMB (Cross media bar) after upgrade.

This is one of the attempts to maximize on digital convergence and online services for PS3. Korea is the best place to test out this new technology (as told by the CEO of SCEK). It looks like Sony is pointing to the Korean market as its tested for future PS3-related tech.

I think KT did a really good job on this project. It will allow the company to attract more customers and give them a chance to check out Hanaro TV as well. Since the PS3 is not selling very well in Korea, this project should be a great chance to increase sales for SCEK, too. We call this a win-win project.

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About Kevin (Kilmo) Kang

Kevin (Kilmo) Kang is a self-professed IT-savvy guy who's been having the time of his life making tech deals with new business partners in the Asia-Pacific areas. Like every Korean, he's gadget-crazy and is glad he lives in a country with one of the fastest-growing tech markets in the world. His taste for international work, however, arose from a nine-year stay in New Zealand where he fortunately made more friends than there are sheep.