Samsung TV Plus launches FIFA+, Cine21+ channels and more

Image: Cine21

In conjunction with FIFA, the international soccer association, Samsung Electronics announced the debut of FIFA+, a digital broadcast channel based on smart TV, on their FAST (advertising-based streaming TV) platform Samsung TV Plus at the end of July. FIFA has previously introduced a free video streaming service named 'FIFA+' in April 2022 for soccer fans all around the world to enjoy. A year later, they are releasing a dedicated channel on Samsung TV Plus, the world's most popular FAST TV service from the leading TV manufacturer. Of course, they might have chosen to cooperate with a program provider (cable TV, IPTV) instead, but although this might have allowed them to launch it in a few locations, the enormous expense would have made it difficult for them to reach 24 of the most important markets right away the way they are presently doing with Samsung.

Today, all it takes to create your own streaming service is to provide enough high-quality programming to get the attention of the public. NASA+, which just created a portal where you can access its massive archive of video footage for free, is one such example. And now, launching a channel on a FAST platform might also become an option worth considering. Conan O'Brien, the world-famous talk show presenter, has started his own unique broadcast channel on Samsung TV Plus. We have now arrived at a point where anyone can set up a TV channel that many people can watch immediately from their TV set, without the need for a program provider. 

Some Korean players are also getting on board. Cine21, Korea's longest-running movie weekly, is also set to debut on Samsung TV Plus with Cine21+, the first channel devoted entirely to Korean films. The company believe that cord-cutting (the phenomenon of people canceling their subscriptions to television providers owing to competition from new platforms such as internet TV, OTT, and so on) would not occur in Korea. However, the number of cord-offers, or those who subscribe to an IPTV subscription simply to access the internet and do not watch the television shows that come with it, is steadily increasing. Can Cine21+ become a globally viewed channel like Conan O'Brien TV and FIFA+? Two years ago, Rotten Tomatoes also launched a FAST channel and stepped into the broadcast media market. It might be good to pay attention and watch this market. 

by Kim Jo-han (Media Guy·New ID Business Development Director)