Samsung refreshes FAST brand and other top news

A new brand identity for Samsung’s TV Plus FAST platform has been revealed.

There are currently 465 million devices and 24 different nations represented by the service’s more than 1,600 channels. According to the firm, during the previous 12 months, consumers streamed TV Plus material for close to 3 billion hours. Samsung added that the platform’s integration on some Family Hub refrigerators in the US and Korea shows its “commitment and investment in the future of FAST” along with the new branding.

Sang Kim, SVP of Product and Marketing at Samsung, acknowledged that the company was unaware of the magnitude of FAST but stated in an interview, “We have seen the engagement numbers just go through the roof the past three or four years.” Kim said the response and comments from consumers, content partners and marketers for FAST “has been fairly overwhelming.” That is one of the reasons Samsung decided that this is the ideal time for a relaunch.

Samsung is introducing new programming alliances and features, including premium content, news services, extended video on-demand content, owned and controlled channels, and exclusive premieres, on the content side. Samsung TV Plus wants to use new and extended relationships with Lionsgate and other companies to quadruple its VOD library in 2023. This fall, Samsung TV Plus will debut the Ride or Drive auto-focused channel, targeted at vehicle enthusiasts. Samsung TV Plus now has 50 owned and controlled channels. Click here to read more.

Vestel, based in Turkey, has agreed to be the first partner in the development and introduction of a family of connected TVs running the TiVo operating system in 2023, with an initial focus on Europe, according to a statement from Xperi today. The arrangement, which the businesses said covers several years, numerous countries, and millions of smart TVs, did not include any financial details.

Xperi, which merged with TiVo in June 2020, announced that it had secured its first connected TV partner a few weeks ago, but didn’t reveal the partner by name. Xperi timed the announcement of the new multi-year deal with Vestel with this week’s consumer electronics-focused IFA show in Berlin.

The alliance is consistent with Xperi’s goal of introducing a competitive independent player to the connected TV operating system and platform market, which is already populated by Google (Android TV/Google TV), Amazon (Fire TV), Roku, Comcast (XClass TV in the US and Sky Glass in Europe), Samsung (Tizen), and LG Electronics, among others (webOS).

Nearly 40% of the smart TV market, according to Xperi’s own estimations, is looking for a standalone platform. Xperi, a company that makes software for connected cars, now plans to expand its smart TV strategy to the US market. The corporation hasn’t provided a timeline for potential product releases in that region, though. Click here to read more.

Providing a variety of sports and betting programming, US sports gaming company FanDuel is launching its own linear television station and over-the-top (OTT) video platform. Both FanDuel+ and FanDuel TV will launch in September. The latter is free to download for any current user with a sportsbook, casino, horse racing, or daily fantasy account. FanDuel TV will replace the horse racing-focused channel TVG Network.

“FanDuel TV and FanDuel+ will accelerate the renaissance racing is enjoying and repackage the sport for a new generation of mobile enabled fans, while also bringing new leagues and sports to the US market,” added Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel chief commercial officer. “We plan to offer more live sports than any network in America,”

The business asserts that its new platform would be the first digital and linear service exclusively for sports betting, serving up a combination of studio and event programming to advertise its sportsbook. “FanDuel TV is the first network designed from the ground up to be watched by viewers with their phone in hand,” said Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel chief commercial officer. “We intend for FanDuel TV to sit at the intersection of live sports and interactive content.”

A brand-new one-hour morning show hosted by Kay Adams, who formerly hosted “Good Morning Football” on the National Football League (NFL) Network, will be the main focus of the studio’s programming. Click here to read more.

A multi-year distribution agreement between AMC Networks International (AMCNI CNE) and the Czech operator Telly was inked; it became effective on September 1.

It offers viewers in the Czech Republic long-term access to entertainment by carrying the channels Sport1, Sport2, AMC, Film+, Spektrum, Spektrum Home, JimJam, and Minimax from AMCNI CNE. In addition to other high profile sporting events, only locally relevant sports programming, such as UEFA ECL matches of Slavia Praha and Slovácko, will be shown.

Commenting on the development, Balázs Hajós, VP of affiliate sales, AMCNI CNE, said: “This newly established long-term agreement with Telly in the Czech Republic recognizes the value of our portfolio of channels and highlights the continued demand for our sought-after sport, drama, film, documentaries and kids’ programming.“

“We have made ongoing investments in our sports rights, including the highly sought-after Formula One events, as well as in regional original productions and prestigious AMC programs like Fear the Walking Dead. This has made it possible for viewers to view the most engaging material, as evidenced by our growing portfolio share in the Czech market. In the upcoming months, we anticipate launching a variety of unique programming.“

Vladimir Rusnak, head of content & strategy of Telly, added: “I believe that by working with AMC Networks International we will be able to make our already unique portfolio of sports channels even more attractive. Moreover, thanks to the rich offer of channels of the AMC Networks International group, not only sports fans, but also film, series, documentary enthusiasts and families with children will find something to enjoy”. Click here to read more.

Vizio and E.W. Scripps claimed to have reached an agreement that will include four Scripps channels to Vizio’s Watch Free Plus streaming service. The pact is the most recent in a series of agreements that give free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) carriage to the Scripps networks that are broadcast over-the-air and are led by Ion and Bounce.

Recently, partnerships were announced by Roku and Samsung that will bring Scripps Networks to their FAST lineups. As a leader in FAST, Scripps, a pioneer in the digital broadcast network industry, also has deals with Pluto TV, Tubi, LG, and TLC.

Since acquiring Ion Media in 2021, Scripps has been quietly implementing a 16-month strategy that has transformed its free-to-air networks into omnipresent superchannels that viewers can find whether they watch free-to-air, via streaming, or, in certain cases, as part of a pay-TV package.

With the introduction of Scripps’ Bounce and Grit networks on its satellite system and the addition of pay-TV service, Scripps is anticipated to finalize an agreement with DirecTV. Ion is already accessible through pay-TV, over-the-air, and streaming.

But for Scripps, obtaining multi-platform carriage has been a top priority.

Vizio’s WatchFree Plus platform will now include Ion, Ion Mystery, Bounce XL, and Grit Xtra according to the most recent agreement. The Newsy, Court TV, and Brown Sugar streaming apps were previously available on the Vizio platform, along with the Newsy and Ion Plus channels from Scripps. Click here to read more.