Get Skype on your TV
In just a few months’ time, you’ll be able to get Skype on your TV – and you can find out more in the video above.
We’re bringing Skype into the living room, so that you can share family moments – celebrating a birthday, organising a holiday or just having a chat with friends on a Sunday evening – all on the big screen.
How will it work?
Thanks to our TV manufacturing partner Panasonic, we’ve been able to embed Skype in the latest generation of internet-connected widescreen HDTVs.
They’ve been tested in our labs in Tallinn, Estonia by our team of engineers to make sure that everything works well together, and once you’ve bought yours, all you’ll need to do is get hold of a TV-ready webcam – developed specially to work with your TV and with Skype.
These webcams include specially-designed microphones which let you make calls from the comfort of your sofa, without having to move closer to the TV or shout*. And the TVs from Panasonic will even allow you to make HD video calls.
We also recommend that you have a 1Mbs symmetric broadband connection for the best possible video experience.
Why Skype-enabled TVs?
We’ve had numerous in-depth conversations with people all around the world about their communication needs – our team of user experience researchers, lead by David Dinka (who features in the video above), identified a desire among people to communicate away from their computers.
Many people we spoke to emphasised to us they want to speak to their friends and family from somewhere comfortable, and preferably make video calls on a big screen. Logically then, we needed to make Skype available on their TV.
When can I get one?
Skype-enabled TVs will be available in spring this year. For now, follow @skypeonyourtv on Twitter for updates, and as they say on TV – stay tuned 
* You’ll need a webcam even if you just want to make voice calls (e.g. to landlines and mobiles) because they contain the extra-special microphones.
I wrote LG a few weeks ago and asked about Skype on the Infinia line of TVs. This is their response:
We apologize that the implementation of Skype capability is taking longer than expected. We anticipate that this new service will be available on LG HDTVs in late October. We appreciate your patience.
This is a great idea from Skype. Would love to skype from my TV, without having to boot up the noisy PC everytime. No missed calls as I’m sure it will sound even when you are watching a program and notify you when a contact comes online. However what about people that do not have a skype enabled TV like me, I have a Sony Bravia HDTV. Could this Skype feature become available to download to the TV’s software as an update? If it is not possible to ever do this then I think Skype should make a universal chipset devise that connects via LAN cable or Wifi. USB for any wecam. HDMI and DVI for TV. And a remote controll with all the basic fuctions. They can call it the ‘Skype Box’ Yeah!
Please please please bring Skype to the PS3! It would be supremely useful. For the millions of PS3 owners it makes such sense… it would be already setup in one’s living room connected to a decent sized screen and a nice comfy sofa from which to Skype family and friends. Please!
hi ive bought the pana tv and the pana camera that sits on the top but it doent work properly is there a help desk somewhere or a tel number there is camera sometimes some times not ,some times audio sometimes not i have neverhad cam and audio on both at the same time
I have been trying since June when i bought a LG television to watch skype on. I have several pages of information stating that skype will be on the LG television. I made several complaints to LG even their Customer service agents say i have been treated appalingly. They kept promising that the dongle is the problem and that when it arrives i would be able to get skype. This is rubbish the tv i have cannot ever get skype as it does not have netcast. even though it was advertised that it did. LG and Currys/ dixond dont know what is going on Dixons are now having the TV back at full replacement cost. But hey there was an LG rep there who said LG will necev have skype on their TVs due to the cost even if you have net cast …….SO DONT BUT AN LG television expecting it to get skype IT WONT.
I would also love to see Skype come to my Playstation 3, if this happened, then I might actually use it. What would be better then Skype on your TV???
Pushing 1000 signatures on petition to get Skype on PS3.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/playstationskype/signatures
Yes, please make a Skype application for PS3 already !
I echo everyone else, I’d like to see this on the Xbox. However, apparently Microsoft are really bitchy about utilizing apps for free services on their console.
I know BBC had a spat with them putting the iPlayer on there, as Microsoft wanted to make it available for Xbox Live Gold subscribers only, which meant it wouldn’t be a free service in the first place.
However, I guess if Skype can get past that, then I’m sure there’d be no problem.
It’s finally available on TV. I got it on my LG but you need the LG AN-VC200 and NetCast 08.02.11 the resolution is kind of poor in my opinion.
THINK BIG …cover all the basis. WII, PS3, XBox
I think skype enabled tv’s are okay… but impractical and it won’t be the driving force for me to buy one. we already have 3 consoles that are web enabled (ps3, xbox, and the wii) and with family members out of the country with the same, I think it would be much more practical to use those. PSP already has skype, why not the PS3? it already has video and voice capabilities. I use skype just about everyday, both skype to skype and for international calling for their excellent rates.
Why do we need to buy a separate webcam, why is it not simply built into the TV as it is on a laptop computer. That is a missed opportunity to make the product better.
I already have a new HDTV that I spent a lot of money on AND I already have a camera sitting in front of my TV because we own an xbox with Kinect. So I will NOT spend money to buy additional equipment to skype. However, I would be willing to pay a small monthly fee to skype from my living room, so why not just offer the feature through xbox kinect???
Hi
I purchased an Internet Panasonic TV last summer which allows connection via a USB WIFi dongle to a selection of internet sites such as YouTube and Skype. The Panasonic dongle cost around £80 although it is possible to source a working alternative for about half this price. To use Skype Panasonic have a special webcam which can be purchased for around £125. I presume if you purchase this you should have a fully working HD Skype via the television. I don’t know if there is any alternative webcams which will work and this is an expensive way of using Skype.
Logically then, we needed to make Skype available on their TV.
Agreed. But rather illogically, you then go and decide to embed it in the TV hardware itself??!!
As per all the posts above, so many people already have the required hardware connected up to the living room TV in the form of Xbox, PS3 and/or Wii. Continue with the logic and use what’s already in place in millions of homes around the world…
Any plans to support the Samsung plasmas? I just purchased a beautiful Samsung Plasma 58C8000 but was very disappointed to find Skype is not supported on that TV. Samsung’s website is fairly misleading about this, its not apparent that its not supported unless you really drill into the site.
I have a Panasonic HDTV. When will be able to make multi-party video conferences like we can on the PC with version 5?
Skype App on Samsung TV – BUG?
I was connected on a video call last night, and went into the options/setup to change my microphone from automatic to manual.
Upon exiting and being prompted to save changes, YES, the next screen prompt was that email address was not correct format – no change to it!
No matter what I did I could not save my audio settings, and get past this error message about the incorrect email format – there is no reason it should have been caring about this.
Who supports this app?
Pete
Since I have received automatically an update of skype the 16th of January 2011 my skype is not running anymore on my Samsung TV 7000. How can I update skype ? or restore the old release ?
SKYPE FOR PS3!!!!!!!
come on!!! Don’t be stupid!!! Is a win win win sittuation! I know that probably Sony is the tought part but even for them is a good deal. If at. Least Sony could make their videoconference app compatible with Skype, it will be a good start!
It would be nice to have skype on my XBOX 360, but right now I have an HP DV5 hooked up to my flat screen through a HDMI cable and a HD webcam, and it works great. Wireless keyboard works perfect. Sounds easier than waiting for skype for gaming consoles.
Have PS3, want Skype.
why? cant SKYPE! just read theses comments and BLOODY make skype for the PS3 eye it would be great and more and more people would use it
@aumen.kanavathy “commented Monday, Jan 10 …..I have a Panasonic HDTV. When will be able to make multi-party video conferences like we can on the PC with version 5?”
Is there any answer to this??? I’d like to know… I just bought the TV and I’m getting bounced back and forth between Skype “support” and Panasonics… they’re pointing the finger at each other. If it’s not coming soon, let me know so I can take my TV (and Camera) back.