Brightcove and LG Electronics have announced a partnership to expand online video content on LG’s Smart TVs. "The deal enables Brighcove’s 2,700+ customers – brands including New York Times, Fox, A&E – to extend their reach into the living room via LG’s Smart TVs, while LG is able to increase the high-quality online video content available through apps on these TVs," a spokesperson for Brightcove tells WebProNews.

"Connected TVs are continuing to grow in popularity, with some analysts estimating over 100 million units will be shipped by 2012," she adds. "Additionally, because of LG’s extensive distribution, this is a huge opportunity for growth not only in the US market, but around the world."

"The partnership between LG and Brightcove opens up a new, global distribution channel to the living room for professional media," said Eric Elia, Brightcove’s VP of TV solutions. "Brightcove customers of all sizes can take advantage of this growing opportunity and expand the reach of some of the world’s most highly sought after online video content to millions of LG devices."

"This partnership brings together two market-leading innovators and is the next natural step in providing consumers with instant access to the online content they crave," said Young-jae Seo, Vp of LG Electronics’ LCD TV Smart TV Team. "We expect to expand our online video distribution capabilities and offer more compelling options to consumers worldwide with Brightcove’s unmatched scale and impressive global customer base. The partnership will definitely make LG Smart TVs the go-to devices for video programming."

Later this year, Brighcove says it will introduce a series of tools and resources for organizations to take advantage of LG’s Smart TC platform, with a "functionally complete reference application" to use as a starting point.