Cam, I think we've all assumed that when you said "snowy" you meant as in whitish colour, correct? because if it's a reddish snow, apparently the panel is done. If it's whitish, it could be the digital main board within the TV according to a quick search I just did. They weren't specifically referring to your Samsung, rather it was an LG, but I thought I'd pass it along.

Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.