NEW TV SETS WITH DIRECT INTERNET ACCESS

Televisions enhanced with direct internet access and 3D displays will be among the most anticipated products unveiled when the world's biggest annual technology showcase kicks off in Las Vegas on Thursday. This year could see a revolution in televisions on high street sale as they converge with the web, allowing viewers to watch services such as the BBC's iPlayer and YouTube more conveniently. Manufacturers including Sony, Panasonic and LG are expected to launch sets with a broad range of new capabilities at the Consumer Electronics Show, including High Definition TV (HDTV) screens with the internet telephony service Skype built in, so people can use their TVs for video chats with friends and family anywhere in the world. The BBC launched a limited trial last month of the iPlayer on some high definition Freesat boxes – the free-to-air satellite service is increasingly integrated into TVs – and is anticipating even more viewers being online when the next generation of sets emerges. There is a scramble to profit on the hype surrounding 3D after cinema hits Avatar and Up. A number of companies will be debuting their attempts at high-quality 3D screens. The Discovery Channel could even announce plans to launch a 3D TV channel next year