Toshiba has announced the first line-up of televisions that include built-in Freeview HD. The new RV, SL and WL series could be the first TVs to hit the shelves offering high-definition Freeview without needing a set-top box, thanks to DVB-T2 tuners inside the tellies.
The RV series will boast 32-inch, 37-inch and 40-inch screen sizes, at a refresh rate of 50Hz. The same TVs without Freeview HD are available as the XV series. RV and XV tellies arrive in April 2010.
The SL series comes in 32-inch, 40-inch and 42-inch varieties, refreshing at 100Hz. It also arrives in April. The top-end WL-series TVs sport 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch screens, refreshing at 200Hz. They arrive in May. Both WL and SL benefit from LED backlighting and a new SoundNavi system, designed to let you point your TV’s sound at the point where you sit, using your remote control.
All the new TVs feature DLNA option to connect wirelessly to other devices, four HDMI ports for wired connection, and a USB port.
Toshiba also announced today three sets of TVs that support standard-definition Freeview, but need an external box for Freeview HD. The XV series mentioned above is joined by the AV series and DVD-playing DV series. They can enjoy high-definition signals from sources such as the Humax HD Fox T2, the first Freeview HD set-top box.
Our very own Ian Morris is trying out the new Tosh gear even as we type these words, so keep it Crave for the inside track on whether they’re any cop. In the meantime, you can check whether you get Freeview in your area with the official coverage checker thingamajig.