LG Electronics has announced a set of updates to its webOS smart TV platform aimed at making news content easier and quicker to access. The company says news remains one of the most viewed content categories on smart TVs, which is why it is refining the UI, adding a dedicated news hub, and expanding global content partnerships.
LG’s biggest change comes through a deeper collaboration with Haystack News, which aggregates reports from more than 400 local, national and international outlets. From 2026, LG Smart TVs sold in the US and Canada will ship with an LG Magic Remote that includes a dedicated Haystack News button. This shortcut is meant to reduce steps for users who want to jump directly into trusted news sources without navigating multiple menus. Haystack News will also be available through the News Portal and the web browser on LG TVs running webOS 25 or later.
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Haystack News CEO Daniel Barreto said the partnership strengthens the service’s mission to offer broad and reliable news access, calling LG’s growing role in news discovery an important milestone for viewers.
This new update is rolling out for LG TVs running webOS 25 in nine countries, viz., the U.S., the U.K., Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and South Korea. The News Portal sits inside the News Q-card and functions as a single destination for live and on-demand updates. It draws from Haystack News for curated stories in the Trending News section and also integrates live channels from LG Channels, podcasts from LG Radio+, and selected reports from major global publishers. LG says the design focuses on simplicity so users can stay informed with minimal navigation.
LG has also updated the built-in browser to improve how users follow recent stories across the web. The browser now includes a region-aware search engine, quicker access to frequently visited sites, and modules such as Trending News and Picks for You for personalised recommendations.
Chris Jo, head of the webOS Platform Business Centre at the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company, said the refresh improves how users watch live news and explore free content, and that the partnership with Haystack extends the range of trusted sources available on LG’s platform.
LG has been steadily expanding the role of webOS beyond core TV streaming apps. The company has invested in FAST programming through LG Channels and added audio content via LG Radio+. Only recently, the company introduced the Xbox-ready LG Gaming Portal in WebOS in markets like India. The latest move positions LG to compete more directly with Samsung and Roku, both of which have been building news aggregation features and FAST integrations into their platforms. Users can expect these changes to roll out through software updates in supported regions and models starting next year.
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