Will Intel hit the jackpot with its virtual TV service? Intel plans to take over living rooms (and the TV business) with a "virtual" TV network-- offering smaller and cheaper channel bundles than those cable subscriptions.  And those set-top boxes would employ Intel technology that can distinguish who is watching, potentially allowing Intel to better target TV advertising.

Intel's found the Achilles heel of the TV industry: the lack of reliability of Nielsen ratings data on audiences.TV network programmers argue the Nielsen polling system (extrapolating data from 50,000 US homes) is not valid in the digital age. According to Reuters, Intel's TV  plans will prove to be a challenge as media content providers still refuse to offer Intel discounts on content licensing and unbundling.

In other words Intel aren't allowed to beat the cable companies by using content.

To combat resistance, Intel has hired high -powered industry veterans to help with negotiations.

Leading the group as GM of Intel Media is Erik Huggers, an Internet-services specialist who helped the BBC launch the high-profile iPlayer service. Huggers has already decided to set up an Intel center in London to work on "user experience" software for TVs. Huggers also hired as an adviser Garth Ancier, once president for BBC Worldwide America, entertainment lawyer Ken Ziffren and former MTV executive Nicole Browning.

With the help of these TV industry insiders, Intel is expected to launch the video service "before the end of the year."

The Intel TV play serves one main purpose-- getting Intel chips into more devices. While one can find Intel processors in 80% of global PCs, the company failed to achieve success in the mobile and interconnected device fields. That's why Intel is aiming for the connected home.

Comcast recently rolled out an Intel-based STB that customers control with their smarpthones. The "X1" platform will rely on data centers packed with high-end servers -- with, of course, more Intel chips.

Intel last year backed down from a push to make chips for "smart" TVs after Google TV failed to have any market impact.

Intel then formed the Intel Media business group with a mandate of promoting digital content on Intel-based platforms.

Go Intel's Plans for Virtual TV Come Into Focus (Reuters)

According to NPD DisplaySearch the global TV replacement cycle is down from 8.4 to 6.9 years, as more households (particularly in emerging markets) want more from their TVs.

A number of reasons fuel the trend, including declining prices, a wider variety of sizes and customers simply wanting the latest technologies.

The study covers 14 global markets and suggests 31% of households plan to replace an existing TV, while 22% plan to add a new TV.

The most critical TV replacement driver is larger sizes, followed by wanting a flat panel TV with improved picture quality. The majority of customers in emerging markets (including BRIC countries) want to replace CRT TVs, while mature regions (like Europe) want to upgrade 1st generation flat panel sets.

The most popular TV sizes in mature markets are 40-44-inch.

Do features such as internet connectivity and 3D drive TV replacement? According to DisplaySearch not really, since such features are "only somewhat important" and "not a strong motivator to upgrade."

To the contrary of popular belief the moving of household is also a weak TV replacement driver.

“The good news is that a large number of markets still have a long way to go toward replacing all CRTs with flat panel TVs, which should continue to sustain growth, but mostly in emerging markets,” DisplaySearch concludes.

Go DisplaySearch Global TV Replacement Study

Piper Jaffray Apple analyst Gene Munster says Apple is definitely releasing a TV-- one with Siri integration, an App store and typical Apple design.

It is a question of "when" not "if," Munster insists. And "when" will Apple release a TV? According to the analyst, H1 2013.

However Apple still has to tackle one sizable problem-- content providers. While Apple wants to provide "unbundled" content (perhaps offering subscriptions to individual channels through the iTunes store), the cable industry refuses to let that happen.

As Munster puts it, "...while we believe Apple will innovate on its existing TV content offering at the launch of Apple Television, we caution that the initial offering may more closely resemble the current Apple TV content offering (Netflix, iTunes, and eventually Hulu)."

One can also expect "a new way to search, interact and record cable content."

The rest of Munster's predictions are fairly obvious-- Siri integration, control via iDevices, iOS-baed apps and slick Apple industrial design. The panel of choice? LCD, in 42-55-inch size.

Go The Apple TV is Coming (Business Insider SAI)

The Monaco Grand Prix involved more than F1 racing this year-- before the race LG launched the 55EM9600 55" OLED 3DTV at the Salle des Etoiles with special guest F1 champion Sebastian Vettel.

First seen at CES 2012, the LG "ultimate display" OLED TV uses WRGB technology, with a white sub-pixel improving colour output and Colour Refiner enchancing imagery further.

OLED displays generate their own light, eliminating the need for backlighting.

The TV also sees a slight redesign post-CES-- the "paper slim" body is in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), with 4mm thickness and 10kg weight.

The Monaco event also hosted the European launch of other LG TVs, including the Quad HD-- an 84" giant 3DTV with an 8 million pixel panel.

Go LG Ushers New Era of Viewing with "Ultimate Display" OLED TV

Samsung and Sony stop retailers from offering discounts on TV prices, The Wall Street Journal reports-- a tactic aiming to protect profits while helping retailers against the "cutthroat online competition."

The policies prevent US retailers from "advertising or selling televisions in stores or online for less than the prices set by the manufacturers." The reason? Sliding TV prices, of course.

According to the CEA, flat-screen TV prices are on a 3 year long 15% slide, even as average consumer TV sizes grow. Meanwhile all the major TV makers (bar Samsung) are making heavy losses.

Not to mention consumers are buying less TVs...

Motorola Mobility shows off its vision for TV UIs with DreamGallery-- a cloud-powered HTML 5-based on-screen display allowing users to browse content as if it was the internet.

Designed to turn TVs (with or without an STB) into a cross-platform media centre, DreamGallery bridges PCs, tablets and smartphones and aggregates content from cable, the internet and VOD on a single screen.

A demo video shows a slick, web-inspired UI replete with simple menus and pull-down tabs. The comparison with internet browsers goes further, as DreamGallery provides users with bookmarks, personalised recommendations and search engines.

Operators get an easy-to-use portal generator and SDK for rapid personalisation and changes.

So, Motorola does Google TV-- but what will happen to the DreamGallery project once Google swallows the TV maker entirely?

Watch Motorola DreamGallery