Yahoo! brings an internet-connected TV platform to a wide range of Vestel TVs, set-top boxes, and other consumer electronics.

Yahoo and Vestel Group, the largest TV manufacturer in Europe, today announced that consumers across Europe will soon be able to easily access content sources, movies, TV shows, social networks, videos, and other kinds of Internet content through Yahoo! Connected TV. Vestel and partner OEM brands will ship Yahoo! Connected TV to consumers in more than 40 countries across Europe starting in Q1 2011.

The Vestel Group of companies is accounting for 16% of the LCD TV market and 25% of the digital set-top-box market in Europe.

With Yahoo! Connected TV, consumers can launch TV widgets or apps with a click of a button, which will give them direct access to entertainment sources, movies, TV shows, videos, and other kinds of Internet content on demand. They can stream the latest movies on Coolroom; get local and global updates from Sky News and BILD News; browse the latest sports scores on BILD mein Klub; listen to music on Putpat; shop on eBay; play games on PlayJam; and keep up with their friends on Twitter and Facebook ? all while watching TV.