LG TV owners could wait "weeks or months" for digital freeze fix

Adam Turner
Wednesday, 21 March 2007 10:17

Your IT - Home IT

It could be "weeks or months" before LG technicians can fix the tens of thousands of televisions afflicted by a glitch causing them to freeze when watching Australia's Nine Network

LG today announced the release of a free "minor software upgrade" for digital tuners affected by the glitch, but the upgrade can only be undertaken by an LG service technician. Customers are asked to register for the upgrade at www.lghdtv.com.au/softwareupdate, but LG's media spokesperson confirmed to IT Wire that the number of sets affected could be "in the tens of thousands". While LG hopes to start making house calls as early as next week, it could take "weeks or months before we can get to all".

Digital television watchers around the country, but particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, have been plagued by the problem for up to three weeks. While LG is working with free to air networks to ensure that no further disruptions are experienced by viewers, it can not guarantee they won't have further problems until their set is upgraded.

"In the unlikely event (prior to the software upgrade) that a customer experiences a further TV ‘freeze’, simply turn the power off, unplug the TV at the wall power socket (leaving for approx 20 minutes) and allow the unit to completely power down," is LG's advice to affected customers.

LG televisions with the following model numbers, purchased after August 2006, are affected by the problem;

LCD TV’s with integrated digital tuners

    * 32LC2D, 37LC2D, 42LC2D, 42LC2DR

Plasma TV’s with integrated digital tuners

    * 42PC1DV, 42PC1DG, 42PX4DV, 50PC1D, 50PC3D, 50PB2DR, 60PC1D, 60PY2D

Rear Projection TV’s with integrated digital tuners

    * 56DC1D, 62DC1D, 62DC1DA

CRT TV’s with integrated digital tuners

    * 32FS4D

Only models purchased after August 2006 with serial numbers beginning with 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 701, 702 or 703 are affected.

Models with serial numbers not beginning with these numbers do not require the update.