If you’re looking for an internet connected screen with generous streaming services, the TX-L42DT50 won’t disappoint. Just click the blue screen to see how deep the Panasonic’s IPTV rabbit hole goes. There’s a wide selection of catch-up and gratis streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Netflix, Dailymotion and Fetch TV, not to mention a variety of European news feeds.
You can also step through to a dedicated apps store for extra diversions, including some decent causal games. The set will also Skype, with the help of an optional Skype-cam.
The TV boasts excellent multimedia file playback, both from USB thumbdrive, SD card and across a network. All of our test files played, including MKV and FLAC, with MP3s benefiting from a graphical flourish when album art was available. The TV will also timeshift programmes to an external HDD, direct from the EPG, a handy supplement to regular PVRing.