General Electric is re-entering the TV business with a new partner – Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Tatung – and big plans to introduce GE-branded models by next spring. The newly announced joint venture is called General Displays & Technologies, and will be directed by CEO Marc McConnaughey and Chief Marketing Officer Peter Weedfald.

GE is a 49 percent equity stakeholder in GDT, and according to the agreement, GDT has now entered a licensing agreement to market GE-branded HDTVs globally.

The plans for Spring 2009 are to release HDTVs with online functionality: “We are developing advanced, Internet capabilities for content delivery to televisions, without the need for a PC,” McConnaughey said in a statement. “This includes Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) through cable, satellite and advanced fiber optic television connectivity.”

Furthermore, they announced that on a long-term, they plan on allowing customers to customize their viewing experience with the help of widgets and a variety of services directly to their HDTVs.

For starters, TVs will come with a set-top box for Internet access, however, that is expected to change in the future models. And speaking of future, GDT will try to address a wider base of consumers, especially taking into consideration the developing digital marketplace and the decreasing flat TV prices.

GDT also announced a partnership with NBC Universal for an open platform capable of delivering Internet and other digital content directly through television. What this basically means is that consumers will be able to watch HD content from website directly on their TVs.

Weedfald explained that GDT’s hope for the future is to become a leader on the rapidly changing digital market, and provide customers with the experience they want, as well as respond to the increasing demand in HDTVs.