Samsung TV Plus

Samsung TV Plus
Name	Samsung TV Plus
Developer	Samsung Electronics
Released	2015
Operating system	Tizen, Android, iOS, WebOS
Type	Ad-supported streaming television service
License	Proprietary

Samsung TV Plus is an advertising-supported streaming television service developed by Samsung Electronics that provides linear channels and on-demand content without subscription fees. The platform integrates with Samsung smart televisions and extends to mobile and connected devices, offering curated channel lineups across genres such as news, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. It operates in multiple regions and leverages content deals and technology partnerships to deliver a free, ad-supported experience.

Overview

Samsung Electronics created a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service designed to emulate linear television within smart device environments, drawing comparisons to services like Pluto TV, Tubi (service), Xumo and The Roku Channel. The service aggregates channels from broadcasters such as BBC, The Walt Disney Company, ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global), and NBCUniversal while also featuring content from studios like Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery. It competes in markets alongside platforms including YouTube TV, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and traditional broadcasters such as CBS and FOX Broadcasting Company. The product strategy intersects with Samsung hardware lines including Samsung Galaxy and Samsung Smart TV ranges.

History and Development

The service launched in 2015 as part of Samsung's broader software initiative coinciding with innovations in Tizen (operating system). Early growth paralleled partnerships with content owners like A&E Networks, Discovery, Inc. (now part of Warner Bros. Discovery), and regional broadcasters such as ITV and France Télévisions. Expansion phases mirrored industry consolidation events including mergers involving Comcast and Sky Limited and licensing negotiations affected by regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions influenced by entities such as the Federal Communications Commission and the European Commission. Strategic announcements occurred around major trade events like Consumer Electronics Show and IFA (trade show), aligning releases with new hardware cycles from Samsung Electronics and competitive responses to products from LG Electronics and Sony Corporation.

Platform and Technical Features

Built natively on Tizen (operating system) for Samsung smart TVs, the platform uses streaming protocols and advertising technologies comparable to systems implemented by Roku, Inc. and Amazon Web Services. Features include channel guide interfaces influenced by standards from Advanced Television Systems Committee formats and content metadata schemes used by companies like Gracenote (a Nielsen company). The service supports ad insertion technologies similar to those from FreeWheel and server-side ad stitching used by Google Ad Manager. Cross-device synchronization and user interface patterns echo designs from Android (operating system), iOS, and web applications found on Chromecast and Apple TV (2nd generation and later) ecosystems. Video codecs and container formats adhere to industry implementations such as H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and adaptive bitrate streaming comparable to MPEG-DASH and HLS deployments.

Content and Channels

Channels feature curated blocks sourced from studios and networks including Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, A&E Networks, Endemol Shine Group (now Banijay), The CW, and international suppliers like NHK and TelevisaUnivision. Programming categories include news from organizations such as CNN, BBC News, Sky News and regional outlets like NHK World-Japan; sports highlights and archive content connected to leagues and rights holders such as National Football League, Major League Baseball, and Fédération Internationale de Football Association media partners; entertainment blocks featuring library content from Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery; and lifestyle channels produced by brands like National Geographic and Food Network. The platform also hosts themed channels around franchises and properties tied to companies like Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm.

Availability and Supported Devices

Initially preinstalled on Samsung smart TVs, availability grew to include other platforms and device families through dedicated applications on Android (operating system), iOS, and select connected TV platforms comparable to Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick. Regional rollouts targeted major markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. Distribution partnerships extended to device manufacturers and operators similar to collaborations between Comcast and platform providers, with deployments tailored to hardware series within Samsung product lines like Samsung QLED and Samsung Crystal UHD models.

Business Model and Partnerships

The service operates on an ad-supported model leveraging supply-side partnerships with advertisers and ad tech firms such as Google, The Trade Desk, and Magnite. Content licensing agreements have been negotiated with major studios and distributors including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Disney, and regional broadcasters and aggregators. Strategic partnerships encompass integrations with metadata and discovery services like Gracenote, distribution collaborations with device makers such as Samsung Electronics itself, and promotional tie-ins during events like CES and seasonal marketing coordinated with retailers including Best Buy and carriers exemplified by Verizon and AT&T in select markets.

Reception and Criticism

Industry observers compared the platform’s growth metrics to competitors like Pluto TV and The Roku Channel, with reviews often highlighting the convenience of preinstalled access on Samsung Smart TV hardware alongside critiques of ad load and channel curation similar to commentary around FAST services. Critics cited content redundancy with offerings from YouTube and streaming libraries controlled by Netflix, Inc. and Amazon Studios, and raised questions about data collection practices paralleled in debates involving Google LLC and Facebook, Inc. (now Meta Platforms, Inc.). Regulatory scrutiny in some territories mirrored issues faced by multinational media companies such as Comcast and Disney regarding competition and content rights.

Category:Streaming television services