LG Uplus said Tuesday that it would offer high-definition content for its Internet protocol television subscribers beginning this month.

The country’s smallest telecom service provider said that up to 32 channels would be provided on Uplus TV G in full high-definition this month even if subscribers did not own a pricey smart TV.

The Uplus TV G service is an IPTV collaboration between the telecom and Google that was launched here last October.

The number of channels in Full HD format will be increased to about 50 by next month and up to 70 by the end of this year, according to Choi Soon-jong, vice president of the IPTV business unit at LG Uplus.

“It’s the first time for content to be offered in Full HD format in the subscription-based broadcast market that includes cable TV and IPTV,” said Choi at a press conference in downtown Seoul. “Compared to the high-definition format, readability of letters has improved and the background scene is illustrated more clearly.”

The service will cost 9,900 won per month under a three-year contract, LG Uplus officials said.

LG Uplus currently has 200,000 Uplus TV G subscribers among its 1.2 million IPTV users. The Uplus TV G service features 126 channels, including Disney and CNN, as well as 50,000 videos on demand and about 2,000 TV applications.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)