From black and white to color, analog to digital, and digital to smart TVs­—Samsung Electronics has been there for all the key historic moments in the development of the television. Over time, Samsung has established itself as a global television leader by applying innovative technologies and staying a step ahead when it comes to identifying global lifestyle trends.

And Samsung’s innovation hasn’t slowed in 2021. Even in the unprecedented era of the global pandemic, the company recorded a revenue-based TV market share of 31.9%¹ in 2020. This was the highest figure the company had ever recorded, and means that Samsung has retained its number one spot in the global TV market for the 15^th consecutive year. In this two-part series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the legacy of Samsung TVs, which have long been pioneers in the sector.

A History of Excellence

Samsung released its initial ‘world’s first’ television in 1998 with the launch of its 55-inch projection TV. The company’s initial securing of this title was partially brought about by its helping to lead the global transition from analog to digital television.

Samsung went on to further change the game by releasing its LCD TV in the early 2000s. Around this time the company successfully popularized wall-mountable LCD TVs, leading to the inception of the golden age of LCD TVs. Samsung also launched a 46-inch (116cm) LCD TV—which was then the largest in the industry—and consequently altered the approach of an industry that had not been focused on large-screen TVs up to then. The 46-inch LCD TV, which cost more than USD 13,000 back then, was widely welcomed and helped spur the success of LCD TVs.

Samsung’s Bordeaux LCD TV, naturally portraying the tones of a fine wine

The Bordeaux LCD TV, released by Samsung in 2006, is another example that shows how innovation-based, outside-the-box thinking has changed the face of the sector forevermore. Developers began to question the long-term feasibility of thick, heavy, vacuum-tube-based televisions and instead started to dream of TVs that were lightweight and aesthetically sophisticated. The Bordeaux TV was the result, with its sales numbers exceeding one million in the first six months of its release. The Bordeaux TV featured a speaker that was relocated from both sides of the TV to the bottom, and highlighted its sophistication with a crimson color and curved edges. In addition to marking the launch of the Bordeaux TV, 2006 was also the first time in the company’s history that Samsung ranked first in the global television market. The company has continued to hold that position for 15 consecutive years, and still holds it today.

The Commitment to Realizing the Best Definition Ever Seen

Aiming to provide the absolute best experience to its television users, Samsung has maintained a keen commitment to improving image resolution. In a time of constantly changing lifestyle patterns and an ever-expanding pool of content, true technological innovation remains a primary driving force when it comes to retaining the TV industry’s top spot.

Samsung’s LED TV, which received attention for its innovative, integrated technologies

At CES 2009, Samsung introduced the beginning of the LED TV era. The company’s LED televisions used light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are semiconductor-based light sources that emit light when current flows through them, to realize very clear image resolution. About 50 engineers worked for around two years to completely redesign all components of the TV, obtaining more than 3,000 patents as they worked to realize the potential of LED TV technology. The resulting televisions would go on to distinguish themselves by creating a whole new domain for the industry.

Samsung’s QLED TV, first introduced at CES 2017

Samsung’s QLED TV, which achieved 100 percent color volume for the first time in the industry, is another product that reached the peak of screen technology. In 2017, Samsung released this next-generation television, which was based on quantum dot (QLED) technology. The TV takes quantum dot technology to new heights with advancements in light efficiency, stability and a wider color spectrum. At this time, Samsung emphasized that it would be creating a new standard for the global TV market in accordance with its slogan, ‘The Next Innovation In TV.’

Samsung revealed its 2021 Neo QLED, a whole new display technology, during its First Look event ahead of CES 2021. Neo QLED is underpinned by Quantum Mini LED technology, which features LEDs that are 1/40^th the height of conventional LEDs and are precisely controlled by Samsung’s own Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor, a powerful picture processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities. Thus, Samsung, which has remained a step ahead when it comes to introducing future display technology, continues to lead the global TV sector while further strengthening its unique position in the market.

Reflecting Users’ Tastes – The Inception of the ‘Era of Smart’ 

After leading the global TV market for 15 consecutive years, Samsung’s innovations have come to transform users’ lifestyles and daily routines too. As more and more users gained the ability to handpick the content they wanted to watch, Samsung launched the Samsung TV App Store in 2010. In particular, the app provided a variety of high-quality local content for different countries, which helped to expand viewer pools. By developing the app according to the viewing preferences of each region and accentuating content like sports, movies, and cooking, Samsung helped make the viewing experience more enjoyable and further advanced its leadership.

Samsung has also been offering its Samsung TV Plus² service since the service’s launch in 2015. Samsung TV Plus is the company’s free Smart TV video service, which provides instant access to news, sports, entertainment and more. The service has now been expanded to 12 countries, bringing access to over 60 million Samsung Smart TVs.

Samsung, which has always been ahead of the pack when it comes to making our societies smarter, will continue to put the users first by allowing them to select what they want to consume and catering its offerings to their tastes. As it continues to demonstrate the power of content, Samsung is planning to further expand its Smart TV experiences by increasing the number of countries where it can provide its services, as well as reinforcing its cooperation with broadcasting companies and content providers from around the world.

¹ January 2021 data released by market research firm Omdia

² Samsung TV Plus is currently available in select regions including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Korea, Australia, and Brazil. Service availability may vary by region and product.

Nam June Paik & Samsung Honor the XXIV Olympiad in Seoul

To celebrate the first ever hosting of the Olympic games in his birth country of Korea, Paik sought to create something especially memorable. And with the support of 1003 TVs from Samsung, Paik gracefully merged TV and art to create the famous ‘The More the Better’ exhibit – still on display today at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea.

In 2016, Samsung organized a posthumous tribute of Paik’s work entitled “The Nam June Paik Show”, to honor the 10-year anniversary of his passing. Korean media artists paid homage to Paik’s ‘TV View Jak’ piece through a reinterpretation of the original by utilizing Samsung Serif TVs.

“The Nam June Paik Show” and the ‘TV View Jak’ pieces reinterpreted with Serif TVs in 2016(top right)

Samsung’s Bordeaux TVs Unleashed a New Aesthetic Experience

Inspired by the elegant lines of a crystal wine glass, Samsung introduced its Bordeaux series of LCD TVs in 2006. TVs were no longer just TVs – they became furnishings of art for interior décor. Samsung became the world’s top TV manufacturer, powered by the success of the Bordeaux TV series.

Building upon the style-conscious design of the Bordeaux Series, in 2008, Samsung developed a new material which enabled a ‘Touch of Color’ to be added to the bezels of its TVs. Samsung TVs again fused technology and art to provide consumers with new ways to experience their TVs.

Salone del Mobile – A Union of Technology and Art

Salone del Mobile is the world’s largest trade fair of its kind – showcasing the latest concepts in furniture design from around the world.

Samsung has participated in the Salone del Mobile each year since 2011, an event where the company showcases a harmony between technology and interior design. To mark their inaugural participation in the fair in 2011, Samsung joined forces with a Korean media art team to create a special piece titled ‘A Bench in a Human Arm’, which used 88 Samsung TVs and 36 tablet PCs to represent how technology can assist human communication. Samsung’s continuous collaboration with artists is transforming living spaces through a fusion of art and modern TV technology.

Samsung’s showcases at Salone del Mobile in 2011, 2014 and 2016 (top to bottom, left to right)

The Style of Technology – Serif TV

In 2016, renowned furniture designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec explored the integration of aesthetics and technology to create Serif TV. With different shapes, sizes and colors available, the TV was meticulously designed to complement the home interior.

Appropriately, Samsung unveiled Serif TV at one of the world’s most renowned art museums in the US, the Museum of Modern Art. The TV is the first TV ever sold in the museum’s store, normally reserved for pieces of fine art, and went on to become a best seller.

Showcasing The Frame at La Biennale di Venezia

In March 2017, Samsung released a television that uniquely doubles as a piece of art on the wall, known as The Frame. The company marked the launch of The Frame by displaying several units in France’s renowned Musée du Louvre in Paris and in May of 2017, Samsung, partnering with modern artist Lee Wan, exhibits The Frame at the 57th La Biennale di Venezia, the world’s largest art exhibition to offer artists and consumers with the theme of ‘A Combination of Art and Technology’.

The connection between Samsung’s TV technology and art goes back nearly 40 years, continuing to blur the line between TV and art. Working beside leading artists and designers, Samsung will continue exploring innovative technological designs to further solidify the bond between technology and art.

Lee Wan explains the inspiration behind his ‘Made In’ artwork, produced in partnership with Samsung, to attendees of La Biennale di Venezia’s 57th International Art Exhibition