With the October 3rd arrival of new K-Content from Korea’s most acclaimed production companies CJ ENM and NEW ID and distribution company KT Alpha, Samsung TV Plus is now one of the largest providers of Korean scripted and unscripted TV series and movies in the U.S.

▲ Nearly 4,000 hours of free-to-stream Korean shows and movies are now available on-demand in the U.S. on Samsung TV Plus, the company’s FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) service.

Endless Entertainment on the World’s #1 Smart TV

The premium offering in the U.S. will bring monthly exclusives from CJ ENM with hit series like Voice 4 and Dark Hole, along with romance drama Doom at Your Service. The psychological thriller drama Beyond Evil distributed by NEW ID will also be arriving soon.

Samsung TV Plus and CJ ENM have also teamed up to bring unscripted, never before seen programs to the U.S., which includes popular food entertainment shows such as The Genius Paik and Three Meals a Day, along with travel shows House on Wheels and Youn’s Kitchen. And for the movie enthusiasts, Samsung TV Plus is now home to NEW ID and KT Alpha’s largest K-Movie offering in the U.S., with hit titles like NEW ID’s award winning Korean films Burning, starring Steven Yeun of Beef and A Taxi Driver, starring Kang-ho Song of the award-winning global blockbuster, Parasite. Fans can also enjoy popular movies from KT Alpha such as Joint Security Area, Oh! Brothers, The President’s Last Bang, 26 Years.

“K-Content is no longer niche — it’s one of the fastest growing and most watched categories globally, and Samsung TV Plus is uniquely positioned to deliver an unparalleled experience in this space with an endless offering of premium K-Content,” said Salek Brodsky, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Samsung TV Plus. “Our partnerships with the leading Korean production and distribution companies CJ ENM, NEW ID and KT Alpha came naturally, with Samsung TV Plus being the platform of choice to reach the largest audience possible, of both existing K-Fans and new viewers.”

An Immersive Plunge Into a Galaxy of K-Content

“As a leading entertainment company, CJ ENM offers the widest range of K-Content, from hit dramas and variety shows to K-Pop and globally acclaimed films. Through Samsung TV Plus, we are excited not only to bring our diverse content libraries to international audiences but also to explore new collaboration opportunities to further expand the impact of Korean entertainment.” added Seo Jang-ho, SVP of CJ ENM Content Business Division.

How To Watch

Samsung TV Plus offers the best of TV, all for free – and is available exclusively across the Samsung TV, Galaxy, Smart Monitor, and Family Hub lineups. This includes the 2024 Samsung Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, OLED, and The Frame, which are designed with advanced AI² that can upscale even your favorite older classics on Samsung TV Plus into stunning 4K and 8K quality.

¹ Samsung TV Plus is the go-to service for free, premium entertainment that allows content owners and advertisers to engage consumers at scale. As a leader in free ad-supported TV (FAST) and video-on-demand (AVOD), Samsung TV Plus is the #1 free ad-supported app on Samsung Smart TVs, with nearly 3,000 ad-supported linear channels available globally in 27 countries across 630M active devices. Samsung TV Plus is accessible on 2016-2024 Samsung Smart TVs, Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators. To learn more, visit samsungtvplus.com.

² Uses AI-based formulas.

While CJ ENM’s content distribution businesses — including several cable channels and “TVING,” a proprietary streaming service — were already well-established, the media landscape continues to evolve and one miss could lead to a spiraling downfall. The company is known for keeping its antennae out for new opportunities and Park’s job was to find the next big thing. As searches for new business opportunities always accompany uncertainty, Park’s priorities were twofold — first, to explore fields where CJ ENM’s strengths seem likely to mitigate threats, and second, to find partners that can share the risk and work to expand the field. Enter free ad-supported TV streaming TV (often shortened as “FAST”) and Samsung TV Plus — a global FAST service operated by the leader in the global TV market.

▲ (From left) Jipyeong Cheon, Jiyeong Kim and Eunhye Park from the Content Distribution Strategy team at CJ ENM and Junga Park, Sejin Woo, Yujung Kang from the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

Samsung TV Plus: Samsung Enters the Content Market

Samsung has continuously strived to enhance users’ lives through ceaseless innovation. While much of the efforts are often highlighted on the product side, the company saw the potential of leveraging TVs already installed in homes to provide further services. “With the vast number of existing Samsung TV users globally, we wanted to take advantage of this opportunity with TV Plus,” said Junga Park.

▲ Junga Park of Samsung Electronics

When Samsung TV Plus was first introduced in 2015, Samsung had maintained its leadership in global TV sales for nine consecutive years — now 17 consecutive years — demonstrating its dominant market position ideal for entering the content service sector. By securing a place within both the TV device and content sides, Samsung sought to provide a new viewing experience for existing users as well as earn ad revenue through its owned platform. With the right partnerships, this would grow into an ecosystem where all parties involved — platform, content and ad partners, and, of course, the viewers — are happy. Recognizing this space, Samsung put forth TV Plus.

▲ Global TV market share for the last nine years. Samsung has maintained leadership in this market for 17 years running (source: Omdia)

For many decades, Samsung has developed several strategic partnerships across different industries­ ­— helping build out its robust portfolio of products and services. Managing content and advertisements became more efficient through Samsung TV Plus, with the availability of valuable data beyond viewer ratings such as when and where consumers watch content, how long they watch for and more. Equipped with these useful insights, Samsung began developing a platform that benefits consumers, content providers and advertisers alike.

Upon its release, the platform initially garnered considerable attention from international users as cord-cutting became more commonplace and streaming platforms surged in popularity. The prevalence of smart TVs helped boost the growth of Samsung TV Plus, with smart TVs accounting for 92% of total TV shipments in the first quarter of 2023 according to market research firm Omdia.

▲ Samsung TV Plus offers more than 2,000 channels in 24 countries

Over the course of eight years, Samsung TV Plus has grown into a massive platform with an extensive content library ­— offering more than 2,000 channels in 24 countries and recording three billion hours of accumulated viewing time worldwide in 2022. After establishing its presence within the market, Samsung expanded Samsung TV Plus to mobile devices starting in April 2021 and to smart monitors and the Family Hub refrigerator in 2022, allowing users to enjoy more connected experiences.

While all this was happening, one key factor in keeping the platform attractive was to diversify content offerings in each of the operating markets. In Korea, partnered with CJ ENM to strengthen its competitive edge.

FAST Market Growth Through Mutual Cooperation

While seeking new ways to expand its global market presence, CJ ENM had been monitoring the growth of FAST, acknowledging it as a potential tool for reaching new audiences. “When I was working in Japan, a senior colleague turned on the TV and introduced me to a platform,” recalled Eunhye Park, Head of Content Distribution Strategy at CJ ENM. “Content was playing but this was not an ordinary broadcast television station nor an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service. Only the power and internet were connected — no additional cables. This was a free ad-supported streaming platform — FAST.”

▲ Eunhye Park, Head of Content Distribution Strategy at CJ ENM

Unlike many OTT streaming platforms, FAST offers free access to ad-supported content on digital channels via smart TVs connected to the Internet. It is a popular option for consumers in North America and Europe who want a more affordable TV plan. In recent years, the global FAST industry thrived as total revenue jumped 20-fold between 2019 and 2022, according to the research from Omdia. The popularity is expected to continue, with revenue predicted to triple to 12 billion USD between 2022 and 2027.

▲ The FAST market is experiencing remarkable growth in North America and Europe (sources: nScreenMedia, Omdia)

After viewing growth trends and market indicators, Eunhye recognized the enormous growth potential in the FAST market. “After seeing the growth of FAST in North America, we knew it had the potential to be even more successful in Korea,” said Eunhye.

Despite its global growth, the FAST market in Korea was still in its infancy — especially as traditional cable TV and OTT streaming services dominated the content industry while other digital platforms were becoming prominent in the advertising space. CJ ENM could have entered the FAST market early to become a leader, but it required a considerable investment of resources and strategic partnerships.

The company also needed data related to the digital industry which was difficult to obtain. While Eunhye’s Content Distribution Strategy team consisted of a group of experts, each bringing considerable experience to the table, the media landscape was becoming more and more complex. With cable TV, OTT streaming services, digital platforms and more, collecting cross-platform data and analyzing user preferences proved to be a challenge.

“A program can be popular on one platform yet fail on another. Short-form and long-form content also perform differently depending on the platform. Clearly identifying users’ preferences is a must when organizing a channel — and a massive amount of data is required,” explained Eunhye.

CJ ENM needed a partner that could shoulder some of the investments and also one to stably provide reliable viewing data. CJ ENM found both in Samsung TV Plus.

Making Everyone Happy — Especially the Viewers

In May 2023, CJ ENM’s brand channel was added to Samsung TV Plus, helping the platform rise to become a top FAST service in Korea.

▲ CJ ENM’s brand channel launched on Samsung TV Plus in May 2023

Since partnering with CJ ENM, Samsung is now targeting existing smart TV users through Samsung TV Plus. “We are focusing on how to improve the viewing experience for users who are already using our products, going beyond selling new TVs,“ said Junga.

To continue providing users with the best content available, Samsung TV Plus is curating a variety of older, fan-favorite content and repackaging them on the platform, in addition to newer more trendy shows. This encourages users to rewatch their favorite programs — even ones they may have forgotten. This, in turn, helps content providers. “Over time, people easily and naturally forget content they enjoyed watching in the past,” said Jipyeong Cheon of CJ ENM. “Samsung TV Plus is helping people rediscover this nostalgia by offering older titles on the platform, helping them become popular again.”

▲ (From left) Jipyeong Cheon and Jiyeong Kim of Content Distribution Strategy at CJ ENM

While platform and content partners benefit from Samsung TV Plus, consumers enjoy the greatest benefits. Users can watch a wide assortment of content for free, and Samsung TV Plus curates a personalized list of content based on unique user preferences, helping viewers find new titles to enjoy. To provide the best and most optimal service, Samsung is constantly working to enhance its offerings. “We are continuing to further diversify content and improve profitability for partners to deliver better experiences for our consumers,“ said Junga.

Mutual Benefits for Continued Business Growth

FAST has experienced incredible growth since its inception, but it is still unfamiliar to many consumers. To continue developing the FAST market, it is important to continue with long-term investments as well as garner relationships with viewers and partners. Samsung is reaching out to content providers to both enrich the user experience and further expand the market in Korea and beyond. In Korea, Samsung is also helping establish FAST as a major digital ad market.

Boasting a variety of advanced features, including optimized content and advertising based on unique user preferences, Samsung TV Plus enables partners to directly reach and connect with consumers. In addition, as the platform is available in 24 countries, companies can utilize Samsung’s expansive international network to target new markets. Recognizing these benefits, CJ ENM chose to work with Samsung to break into the North American market.

“During negotiations, we learn about our partners’ strengths first and suggest various channel strategies. Through our successes, we learned how to strengthen and benefit our partners as well,” said Junga.

Media Outlook for the FAST Market

The future of Samsung TV Plus is bright. Reports from Omdia and Blue Ant suggest that the number of monthly active users of Samsung TV Plus will increase to 58 million in 2027, driven by the rise in the popularity of smart TVs. To meet this demand and showcase diverse content on the platform, Samsung continues to add more content to give audience members something they’ll love watching. Recently, Samsung globally added FIFA+ on Samsung TV Plus to celebrate the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

▲ To celebrate FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, Samsung globally added FIFA+ on Samsung TV Plus and expanded sports content.

In line with constantly changing content consumption patterns and streaming environments, Samsung and CJ ENM are working to spearhead the FAST market not only in Korea but also in North America and beyond. And with more partners and projects in the works, Samsung TV Plus continues to grow as a platform.

¹ CJ ENM is a leading entertainment company based in Korea. Since 1995, the company has engaged in a wide array of businesses across the industry spectrum including media content, music, film, performing arts, and animation, providing its top-notch original content to various media platforms. CJ ENM has created, produced and distributed globally acclaimed content including Oscar-winning film Parasite, Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, record-breaking Korean box office hits Roaring Currents, Extreme Job, Ode to My Father, along with sought-after television series such as Mr. Sunshine, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Grandpas over Flowers, I Can See Your Voice and more. To offer the best K-Culture experiences worldwide, CJ ENM presents KCON, the world’s largest K-culture convention & festival celebrating Hallyu and Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA), the world’s No.1 K-pop music awards. With regional offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S., CJ ENM currently employs over 3,600 people. For more information, please visit: http://www.cjenm.com.

Samsung Electronics today celebrates the grand opening of a virtual production stage in collaboration with leading entertainment company in Korea, CJ ENM. The studio’s real-time virtual experience is powered by connected cameras and Samsung’s cutting-edge Micro LED technology, The Wall (Model Name: IWA).

The partnership, first announced in July 2021, leverages the customizable, modular technology of The Wall and CJ ENM’s globally renowned television and film content production. The opening of this studio in Paju, Korea demonstrates momentum from both companies toward the next generation of video production technology, aimed at satisfying a range of customers in the increasingly fast-paced world of entertainment.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of this virtual production stage in partnership with CJ ENM, a company at the forefront of media and entertainment,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to see the innovation that this new space will produce, bringing the latest content to life like never seen before on our incredible display, The Wall.”

The CJ ENM virtual production stage will present Samsung’s innovative Micro LED technology with The Wall’s impressive screen measuring over 1,000 inches in a custom oval display of 20 meters in diameter and 7 meters in height. The IWA model display supports a resolution of 30,720 (32K) x 4,320 (4K). This real-time, virtual set powered by Samsung’s Micro LED displays and connected cameras will reduce the image compositing needs and save time and production costs. In addition, an IFR2.5 ceiling display has been installed, with the IFR 2.5 Plug Wall displayed on the other side of the IWA. 360-degree video shooting is also possible thanks to the main screen, ceiling and Plug Wall.

The Wall’s specifications are customizable to fit the unique requirements of the content creators and space, including ceiling installation in convex or concave design. The screen enhances visual expression with vivid colors, HDR10, HDR10+ and cinema LED picture quality and details. The features enabling reimagined content production include dedicated studio frame rates, including 23.976, 29.97 and 59.94Hz, for seamless video sync.

The Wall is designed for easy management and peace of mind in any environment due to the ability to manage and make color adjustments remotely as well as the dust and contamination-resistant LED protective films. In partnership with CJ ENM, Samsung is delivering on its commitment to offer innovative solutions ready for the next generation of content production.

About CJ ENM

CJ ENM is a leading entertainment company originated from Korea. Since 1995, the company has engaged in a wide array of businesses across the industry spectrum including media content, music, film, performing arts, and animation, providing its top-notch original content to various media platforms. CJ ENM has created, produced and distributed globally acclaimed contents including Oscar-winning film Parasite, Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, record-breaking Korean box office hits Roaring Currents, Extreme Job, Ode to My Father, along with sought-after television series such as Mr. Sunshine, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Grandpas over Flowers, I Can See Your Voice and more. To offer the best K-Culture experiences worldwide, CJ ENM presents KCON, the world’s largest K-culture convention & festival celebrating Hallyu and Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA), the world’s No.1 K-pop music awards. With regional offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S., CJ ENM currently employs over 3,600 people. For more information, please visit: http://www.cjenm.com.

Through this partnership, Samsung will supply its state-of-the-art display technology, The Wall, to CJ ENM’s virtual studio, a part of its television and film production studio complex scheduled to open in Paju, Korea later this year. The custom virtual production volume studio will be the first in the world to leverage The Wall’s boundless LED technology, unlocking new possibilities for video content production operations and virtual production solutions. The main display will be installed in an oval shape with a diameter of 20 meters and a height of seven meters or more, creating a seemingly endless backdrop to capture content.

“We are excited to collaborate with CJ ENM to build a virtual production studio featuring Samsung’s most cutting-edge display technologies,” said Jong-hee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With this partnership, Samsung is launching a new virtual production industry initiative with a commitment to deliver innovative products and solutions that offer the optimal environment for next-generation content production.”

This virtual production studio will use LED displays and connected cameras to create virtual settings in real-time. This solution will save time and reduce image compositing and on-location production costs while helping filmmakers to see the camera on the live-action set in any direction.

The Wall’s modular technology allows creators to design environments to their specific requirements, enabling a variety of installation options such as ceiling installation and convex or concave design, depending on the internal studio design.

The 2021 model of The Wall (Model Name: IWA) with Micro LED technology enhances visual expression with ultra-deep blacks and wide viewing angles, giving filmmakers and content creators the ultimate canvas to fulfill their visions. The modular screens are ideal for studios thanks to their precise color expression, HDR10+ and cinema LED picture quality technology and optimized frame rates for production houses. A new molding process is also applied to the modular surfaces of The Wall to minimize any moiré patterns from forming, a nuisance typically associated with filming standard LED screens.

The Wall’s massive screen measures over 1,000 inches, producing vibrant colors and details supporting up to 16K high-resolution¹ content. Dedicated frame rates for studio production, a new addition to this year’s model, allows producers to run content at frame rates such as 23.976, 29.97 and 59.94Hz, ensuring seamless videos sync with the most widely used camera framerates. Frame Rate Sync technology further reduces screen disruptions for true-to-life accuracy. With thoughtful dust and contamination-resistant LED protective films, plus a variety of easy-to-use solutions, such as remote management and color adjustment, The Wall is built for convenient management in any environment.

CJ ENM Virtual Studio Concept Visual

Both companies expect this collaboration to improve content production possibilities while satisfying a variety of customers by reimagining content production for today’s fast-paced entertainment environment.

“The strategic partnership with Samsung will allow CJ ENM to push forward the creation of a new powerhouse of the next-generation content,” said Ho-sung Kang, CJ ENM CEO. “While CJ ENM is investing $4.4 billion over the next five years in entertainment content, we are taking the lead in building a global No. 1 production studio to become a world leading entertainment company.”

About CJ ENM

CJ ENM is Asia’s leading entertainment and lifestyle company headquartered in Seoul, Korea. Since 1995, the company has engaged in a wide array of businesses across the industry spectrum including media content, music, film, performing arts, and animation, providing its top notch original content to various media platforms. CJ ENM has created, produced and distributed globally acclaimed contents including Cannes-winning film Parasite, Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, record-breaking Korean box office hits Roaring Currents, Extreme Job, Ode to My Father, along with sought-after television series such as Crash Landing On You, Mr. Sunshine, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Grandpas over Flowers, I Can See Your Voice and more. To offer the best K-Culture experiences worldwide, CJ ENM presents KCON/KCON:TACT, the world’s largest K-culture convention & festival celebrating Hallyu and Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), Asia’s biggest music awards. With regional offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S., CJ ENM currently employs over 3,600 people.

¹ 16K resolution is only available for horizontal layouts with a 15,360 x 2,160-pixel arrangement.