Samsung, the world's largest consumer electronics company, is partnering with Yahoo in a deal that will provide integrated internet access via television sets, called InforLive.
The two companies are expected to announce the partnership at this week’s IFA industry fair in Germany.
The InfoLive service will provide news, finance and weather information from Yahoo, directed from the remote control. The service will be rolled out in Canada, Australia, Singapore and throughout Europe by the end of the year.
The service comes as consumers become increasingly interested in interactivity across media, such as phone-in voting and watching TV clips and downloading extra content via the internet.
With the partnership, users will be able to watch a programme while a tickertape of news items, share prices or weather forecasts runs in tandem with it. The content is accessible via an integrated Ethernet port or via Samsung's wireless LAN adapter, which connects to the viewer's broadband service.
Meanwhile, Samsung is entering a joint venture with Yahoo and Intel to develop a “Widget Channel” of interactive content.
The venture will allow viewers to be able to check their eBay auction, view a friend's photos and instant message friends, all using the remote control from the comfort of living room.