Home Theater Geeks 508: LG Multi-View Mode

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Host: Scott Wilkinson (with Leo Laporte introduction)
Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Wilkinson tackles a listener's question about LG OLED TVs' Multi-View mode, specifically regarding limitations on displaying multiple HDMI sources simultaneously. With insights from LG contacts, technical explanations, and user manual contradictions, the discussion navigates the nuances of hardware capabilities and the evolution of TV technology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question: LG B7A's Multi-View Limitation

• Michael S asks why his 2017 LG65B7A OLED only allows Multi-View (side-by-side viewing) between the OTA tuner and an HDMI input, and not two HDMI inputs.

2. LG’s Official Answer (03:00)

• Scott Wilkinson shares LG’s response:
  • The B7A can only support Multi-View with one HDMI input and the internal OTA tuner, not two HDMI sources.
  • The reason is a hardware limitation: “Back when we introduced the OLED B7 most TVs… were only built with a single HDMI decoder.”
  • Beginning in 2024, top-line LG models with the Alpha 11 processor (G4 2024, G5 & M5 2025) allow two HDMI sources in Multi-View, thanks to dual HDMI decoders.

“So my contact confirms that what you are experiencing with your B7 is indeed how it is. It’s a hardware limitation. There’s only one HDMI decoder in the TV and that applies to whichever HDMI input you select.”
— Scott Wilkinson (04:32)

3. Contradictory User Guide Findings (07:37)

• Scott finds an online user guide for the B7A suggesting it’s possible to have two HDMI inputs in Multi-View.
• He walks through the manual’s instructions:
  • Access Multi-View via the Home button.
  • Select inputs for both images, which in the guide include the OTA tuner and HDMI inputs.
  • The manual oddly suggests you can display different channels from the tuner in both windows, implying two tuners might exist.

“According to the manual, you press the Home button on the remote control and run the Multiview app… Under each image there is a list of sources including live TV, the internal OTA tuner, and the TV’s HDMI inputs. This should let you select two different HDMI inputs. I’m surprised…”
— Scott Wilkinson (08:19)

• Caveats from the manual:
  • Multi-View not available for Ultra HD channels.
  • Cannot use Multi-View and recording features simultaneously.
  • Feature availability may depend on connected devices or signal quality.

4. Community Experience & Broader Context

• Scott cites a Reddit thread about the LG C2 OLED (2022), showing similar consumer confusion and suggesting this is a common issue across multiple LG models.
• Reinforces: Most TVs, including those from LG and other brands, traditionally only decode one HDMI source at a time. Only newest, high-end TVs support dual HDMI Multi-View.

“So there seems to be some confusion which I have not yet gotten to the bottom of except to say, and I believe this to be true. According to my contact, there’s only one HDMI decoder in the B7 and most TVs…”
— Scott Wilkinson (09:29)

• The only real solution: upgrade to a high-end, recent model with the Alpha 11 processor.

5. Listener Engagement & Show Participation Invitation (11:39)

• Invites listeners to send home theater questions to htg@twit.tv.
• Encourages fans to share photos and descriptions of their home theaters for a chance to be featured in "Home Theater of the Month" episodes, potentially even appearing live via Zoom.

“If you have a home theater, I invite you to send me photos of your room… I’d like to feature some of your rooms, some of your home theaters, in my Home Theater of the Month episodes…”
— Scott Wilkinson (12:04)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Scott Wilkinson on hardware limits:
  “It’s a hardware limitation. There’s only one HDMI decoder in the TV and that applies to whichever HDMI input you select.” (04:32)
• On contradictory manuals:
  “I’m surprised it says you can select the tuner for both images and display different channels. That’s pretty surprising. That would mean there’d need to be two tuners in the TV.” (08:31)
• On what consumers can do:
  “There’s nothing you can do about it except buy a new TV and an expensive one at that, a high-end one, one of their top of the line ones…” (10:30)
• Engagement invitation:
  “Send me an email to htgwit tv and I look forward to hearing from you. Until next time, geek out.” (12:22)

Detailed Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:23 | [Scott Wilkinson introduces the episode and the listener question] | | 01:59 | [Main answer begins – explanation of LG B7A limitation, LG contact response] | | 04:32 | [Clarifies single HDMI decoder limitation in most OLED TVs until recent models] | | 07:37 | [Discusses conflicting information in the B7A user manual and Reddit user experiences] | | 08:19 | [Detailed walkthrough of the B7A online manual Multi-View steps and caveats] | | 09:29 | [Summarizes confusion, affirms LG’s limitation applies, only high-end models support dual] | | 10:30 | [Concludes: only option is to upgrade to newer, high-end models for this feature] | | 11:39 | [Calls for listener questions and home theater submissions for future features] | | 12:22 | [Signs off: “Until next time, geek out.”] |

Summary for Listeners

This compact, highly focused episode delivers a clear answer to a common question among LG OLED TV owners: why can’t most LG TVs display two HDMI sources side-by-side in Multi-View? Scott dispels confusion by consulting LG directly and referencing both user manuals and community discussions. The answer is simple but significant: only LG’s latest, top-tier models can support this due to processor and hardware decoder upgrades. For everyone else, the limitation is hardwired. The episode stands out for its technical clarity and genuine engagement with the home theater enthusiast community.