A New Era of In-Room Entertainment with LG Channels
The hotel-room TV is becoming the bedrock of guest experience, branding and operational efficiency. According to Himesh Jeram, VP of Hospitality Solutions at Ameritech, “Smart TVs are now the baseline. Guests expect to stream and cast, just like home.” With that expectation rising, the launch of the new value-packed LG Pro:Centric Smart Hotel TV featuring built-in LG Channels arrives at exactly the right time to meet both guest demands and owner economics.
Why Now: Cost Pressures + Guest Expectations
Hotel operators are facing escalating costs across construction, operations and guest-services. Meanwhile, major hotel brands have increasingly converged on uniform technology standards, making a “smart TV required” specification common from economy to luxury segments. “LG’s new value tier brings modern, connected rooms to more hotels without breaking budgets,” Jeram said.
At the same time, the global in-room entertainment landscape is shifting fast. For instance, the video-on-demand market in hospitality alone is projected to grow from$33.75 billion in 2024 to nearly $95 billion by 2029. And, the hotel IPTV/TV system market is expected to grow at ~6.3% annually between 2025-2035. In this environment, a TV that can deliver seamless streaming, casting, and advertising-enabled channels becomes a strategic asset, not just a room amenity.
LG Channels: Built-In Content, Built-In Savings
A critical feature of the new LG Pro:Centric tier is LG Channels; a suite of free ad-supported streaming-channels (FAST channels) built directly into the hotel-TV firmware. As LG’s own announcement states: “Over 95 FAST LG Channels are currently available on all of our smart hotel TVs … there is no need for additional apps or hardware.” Jeram sums it up: “Eliminating monthly cable costs with built-in channels is a real lever for owners.”
Why is this so significant? Traditional cable or set-top box rentals in hotels can cost $15-25 per room per month, which for a 100-room property adds up to $90,000-150,000 over five years. By eliminating the need for external hardware, contracts and recurring fees, LG Channels helps convert that cost into value.
Moreover, the FAST channels market itself is expanding rapidly: from ~$8.6 billion globally in 2024 to a projected ~$18.8 billion by 2030. Hotels integrating built-in FAST channels position themselves to benefit not just from guest-engagement, but from a global content-ecosystem shift.
Feature-Rich, Value-Driven Hardware
The new LG Pro:Centric Smart Hotel TV layer combines a host of powerful features tailored for hospitality. These include native Apple AirPlay and Google Cast support, built-in streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, HBO Max), Pro:Centric CMS for branding and guest-messaging, and LG Channels for content and cost advantages.
“The TV is becoming the control center of the room; branding, messaging, and guest engagement all flow through it,” Jeram said.
By bundling these capabilities into a value-tier model, LG is filling a gap in the economy and midscale market where price constraints previously limited smart functionality. The competitive dynamic is clear: where rivals like Samsung and Philips offered lower-cost hardware with fewer features, LG now offers lower price and full smart connectivity.
For example, a quoted savings of roughly $100 per TV unit multiplied across a 300-room property translates to a capex delta of about $30,000. Jeram highlights this kind of owner-economics as key: “Value without compromise – lower unit cost versus prior LG SKUs while preserving the smart, branded experience.”
Deployment, Partnered, and Worry-Free
Upgrading in-room entertainment can be daunting. Ameritech offers a full A-to-Z service: consultation, design, installation, network assessment and long-term support. “We’re a one-call partner; consultation, design, install, and long-term support,” Jeram said.
A real-world case underscores that promise: a 275-room Hilton conversion featuring legacy infrastructure. Ameritech guided the project from scoping through install, delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, resulting in improved guest satisfaction scores and six additional project awards. This kind of execution demonstrates that the TV upgrade isn’t just about replacing hardware, it’s a strategic project worth doing right.
Looking Ahead: The Guest Room TV as Strategic Platform
With guest rooms increasingly expected to deliver “home-like” streaming experiences, the TV transitions from ancillary amenity into a strategic guest-touchpoint. “Beyond pricing, success for technology providers is defined by ease of implementation, integration, simplicity, and security,” Jeram said.
As technology evolves, hoteliers will demand TVs that integrate with PMS, IoT controls, mobile apps and other guest-platforms. LG Channels, Pro:Centric CMS and Ameritech’s installation services place this latest LG offering right at that convergence point. Hotels that adopt this now aren’t just modernizing, they’re future-proofing.
Get Ahead, Stay Ahead
If your property is evaluating a technology refresh, now is the moment. Upgrading to the new LG Pro:Centric Smart Hotel TV with LG Channels gives you a competitive edge: modern guest experience, lower operating costs, streamlined deployment and future adaptability. As Himesh Jeram says, “LG’s new value tier brings modern, connected rooms to more hotels without breaking budgets.”
For hotel operators ready to elevate their in-room tech and their guest satisfaction, the choice is clear. Contact Ameritech today to explore how this value-driven platform can transform your property’s entertainment infrastructure and deliver measurable returns for years to come.