--- title: "What Is LG webOS? A Guide for Streaming Services | RentAnOTT" description: "webOS is the operating system on LG smart TVs. See how webOS streaming apps are built and published and how the platform relates to Samsung Tizen." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/webos" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/webos.md" category: "Devices" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is LG webOS? webOS is the operating system that runs on LG smart TVs, and on televisions from some other brands that license it. A streaming service reaches those viewers by publishing a webOS app in the LG Content Store. ## How webOS apps are built Like Samsung's Tizen, webOS TV apps are web applications built with HTML, CSS and JavaScript and run in the television's browser engine. LG provides a software development kit, an emulator and television-specific services. Video plays through the platform's media pipeline with hardware decoding and DRM. ## What a webOS streaming app needs - Navigation for the standard remote, and for LG's pointer remote, which works like a cursor - Playback with PlayReady or Widevine for protected content - Testing across model years, which ship different browser engine versions - Careful memory and performance management on television hardware - Listing artwork and metadata to LG's specifications ## Publishing Apps are submitted through LG's seller portal and go through quality testing before appearing in the LG Content Store. As with other television platforms, review happens on real devices and takes longer than a mobile store. ## webOS and Tizen together Because both are web-based, a large part of the code can be shared between a webOS app and a Tizen app. The player integration, remote-control handling, packaging and store submission are separate. Together LG and Samsung account for a large share of smart TVs sold, so they are usually launched as a pair. ## LG webOS on RentAnOTT A RentAnOTT LG TV app is $149/month, with store submission included and a 6-month minimum commitment. [See app pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing). ## Related terms - [Samsung Tizen](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/tizen) — Tizen is the operating system that runs on Samsung smart TVs. A streaming service reaches Samsung television owners by publishing a Tizen app through Samsung's app store for televisions. - [Smart TV app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app) — A smart TV app is an application built to run on a television's operating system or on a streaming device attached to it, and installed from that platform's app store. For a streaming service it is the way viewers watch on the big screen. - [CTV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ctv) — CTV (connected TV) is a television that can stream video over the internet, either because it is a smart TV or because a streaming stick, set-top box or games console is attached to it. - [Android TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/android-tv) — Android TV is Google's version of Android for televisions, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. It runs on sets from many manufacturers and on operator boxes, and apps for it are distributed through Google Play. - [PlayReady](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/playready) — PlayReady is Microsoft's DRM system. It protects streamed video on Windows and the Edge browser, Xbox consoles, and many smart TVs and set-top boxes. - [Widevine](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/widevine) — Widevine is Google's DRM system. It protects streamed video on Android phones and tablets, Android TV and Google TV, Chrome and other browsers, and most smart TVs and streaming devices outside Apple's ecosystem. - [App store submission](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/app-store-submission) — App store submission is the process of preparing a streaming app, sending it to a store such as Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Amazon Appstore or a smart TV store for review, and publishing it once approved. - [Apple TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv) — Apple TV is Apple's streaming set-top box, which runs the tvOS operating system. Streaming services reach it by publishing a tvOS app on the App Store. The name is also used for Apple's own TV app and subscription service, which are separate things. ## Further reading - [OTT app builder](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/ott-app-builder) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) - [How to start a streaming service](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/how-to-start-a-streaming-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### Is webOS only on LG televisions? Mostly. LG also licenses webOS to other television brands, so the same app can reach some non-LG sets. ### Can one app serve both LG and Samsung TVs? Much of the code can be shared, but each platform needs its own build, player integration and store submission. ### Which DRM does webOS support? PlayReady and Widevine. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt