People in this situation aren’t alone. The average viewer spends almost an hour every day trying to find something to watch. But there’s a way that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help with content discovery, and it’s a function that’s already available on Samsung TVs.

Universal Guide Gives Smart TV the Power to Suit User Tastes

Samsung Electronics has introduced Universal Guide to its 2018 smart TVs as a way of helping users find content that fits their tastes. The clever AI deployed as part of the functionality can make suggestions of shows the viewer might like.

Universal Guide is an advanced program guide unlike any that came before. It learns a user’s preferences by watching for patterns over the space of a few weeks. It then uses the last two weeks of data to suggest suitable content on the smart TV including live channels. Although similar services have been available before, this is the first to use the power of AI to make intelligent content recommendations.

There are five tabs on the Universal Guide: For You, TV Shows, Movies, Sports, and Music. For You is the service that automatically recommends shows it thinks the user will like based on machine learning analysis of previous viewing habits. On the TV Shows, Movie, Sports, and Music tabs, the Universal Guide offers the latest trending content including Over the Top (OTT) content separate from the personalized recommendations on the For You tab.

Adding Simplicity to the Search for Shows

The profile of the average TV viewer is changing. It’s impossible to ignore the effect of Over the Top (OTT) streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It has given rise to a generation of cord cutters – people who have severed ties with traditional cable suppliers. As a result, they have opened up new levels of flexibility where they can watch TV as and when they want. They can even binge-watch their favorite shows.

Responding to this trend, TV, which remains the most treasured watching platform, has been increasing its services. Samsung smart TVs provide video services from the likes of YouTube and Netflix and music services from Spotify. Additionally, thanks to the TV PLUS feature on Samsung smart TVs, viewers can watch video on demand without installing any extra apps. Everything is seamless and integrated. The AI-powered Universal Guide makes searching through this large amount of content intuitive.

Top Choices All Over the World

What makes Universal Guide different from other content recommendation algorithms? It reflects the latest trends, in addition to the user’s past viewing patterns. Universal Guide makes it easy to find the latest trending content no matter where the user is. After purchasing a Samsung smart TV, the user can input a regional code, which enables the TV to recommend the latest popular content based on the user’s location information. Combining viewer’s history and trending content in the area, Samsung 2018 smart TVs can recommend shows that would likely appeal to the user’s taste, anywhere in the world.

Taking AI to the Next Level

This is an experience that will only get better. Universal Guide already uses AI to grant access to content intuitively without a complex procedure. In the second half of this year, Samsung Electronics will further advance a content recommendation algorithm that will use AI to pick out not only real-time broadcast content but also OTT content. After that, the algorithm will evolve to be able to cater to individual user needs, instead of recognizing the viewing patterns of the whole family. In addition, Samsung plans to give the most optimal experience that a TV platform can bring by making the content viewable on mobile. The company also plans to add eSports and home shopping tabs to its smart TVs.

The needs of the content market and consumers are continuously changing. Universal Guide, with the power of AI, is changing things further still. But the mark of success will always be ease of use and an optimized viewing experience.

※ Content/specification availability may vary depending on region and/or content provider

In 2018, Samsung TVs now connect seamlessly with mobile devices. And unlike in the years past, this interconnectedness is now simple to achieve, making content sharing and personalized recommendations a breeze.

Connect and Share with Ease

There’s no longer a tradeoff to having a top end smart TV with a range of exciting features. There’s no need to get lost in a maze of menus if you want to set up your TV – in fact the opposite is true with the 2018 Samsung Smart TVs. Thanks to the SmartThings app, you’ll have access to everything you need to get set up and enjoying your new television quickly. With a few tap of the mobile app, SmartThings enables your TV to recognize your Wi-Fi connection, your set-top boxes, favorite apps and Samsung account information.

Taking this fast lane to smart TV installation means you get to watch your favorite shows quickly. And even here, SmartThings shows its intelligence. If you’re already logged in to a video application on your mobile device, your TV connects to the same account without having to re-enter your login details on screen. You can quickly choose which of your apps connect in this way to your TV.

But your mobile phone isn’t just used to set up your TV. It will become part of a daily way to interact with it. For example, you can use it to set a reminder for when the game is on. And this is a smart reminder that knows what channel the game is on and enables you to switch to it right away without having to remember what channel it comes on.

The connectivity gets better still. In 2018, all Samsung Smart TVs will feature the SmartThings dashboard. This will enable your TV to not just be the center of your living room, but the Internet of Things (IoT) hub for your entire home. You’ll be able to see what’s in your fridge, control the lights, adjust the thermostat and do many other things – all from the TV screen. You’ll even be able to use your TV to instantly share photos captured during special moments like your unforgettable trip to Paris with your parents back home. We’ve listened to our users who told us they wanted to connect more conveniently with their home. This will enable them to do so.

Universal Guide for Your Personalized Preference

Although the TV is getting smarter, the device should always be primarily about enjoying content. There are enhancements in this area too when it comes to finding what to watch. This year sees Samsung make improvements to its Universal Guide, which can recommend movies, TV shows, sports and more all from one place. It integrates content from your cable provider as well as VOD and streaming services onto one consolidated page. And the recommendations are made based on your preferences.

To make browsing even easier, you could use the intuitive Samsung One Remote, which controls not just your TV, but other devices connected to it, such as a cable box, Blu-ray player, and the internet. It’s recently been enhanced with the ability to control AV products connected with an optical cable.

Additional options available through 2018 Samsung Smart TVs include enhanced TV PLUS. This enables users to find and enjoy UHD and HDR movies from a large selection – 8,900 movies, including 195 in UHD – available through the Samsung Smart TV user interface. The selection is constantly growing thanks to Samsung’s ever-expanding list of content partnerships, which will make it easier and easier for users to find and enjoy the UHD and HDR movies that they want to see.

Meanwhile, Steam Link allows users to stream their favorite Steam PC games in 4K from their computer to play on their TV. More than 6,000 games are already available and can be streamed without purchasing a separate Steam Link device.

Voice-assisted Living

We’ve given you a choice of methods to find your way to great content. One of the newest and most innovative ways is through the use of your voice. Bixby, Samsung’s intelligent assistant platform, will be included in Samsung’s 2018 premium TV line up, launching first in Korea and the US. Not only will it enable you to use your voice to interact with content from various providers such as Amazon, but it will also allow you to unlock a range of other possibilities that add a new layer of convenience.

For example, you could ask Bixby to switch your TV to a particular channel or play a particular song. You could even ask Bixby to do the hard work such as finding Oscar-winning movies. Away from entertainment, Bixby can tell you the news or weather, control your IoT devices throughout the house, or show you your most recent photos. It’s another example of how the TV is now more than the device you use to view terrestrial content.

Thanks to SmartThings and Bixby, the TV is now part of Samsung’s ecosystem of connected devices that can all communicate with each other. In the case of Samsung’s 2018 Smart TVs, they are now able to carry out a great deal of functions and activities. But the core function is ease of use. The connected home is one where users can enjoy life with fewer distractions and complications. Samsung’s Smart TVs will be major drivers of this experience.

Similar to the way viewers already navigate the channel menus for their traditional cable or TV providers, Samsung Smart TV users in Europe will be able to easily find their favorite content using the TV PLUS interface. The video on demand (VOD) shows and movies will be delivered via the users’ internet connection.

Wide Range of TV in UHD

Thanks to TV PLUS, viewers will be able to enjoy the highest quality UHD and HDR movies through multiple channels directly on their Samsung Smart TVs. And because the TV PLUS app has been designed to have a familiar user interface, retrieving UHD and HDR content is both simple and enjoyable.

“Our goal at Samsung is to create innovative and valuable technology that makes our consumers’ lives easier and more enjoyable when it comes to watching their favorite content,” said Heeman Lee, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the European expansion of TV PLUS, we are thrilled to provide additional consumers access to new movies in UHD and HDR quality.”

VOD movies provided by TV PLUS are broken down into three categories: New Releases, Family and UHD. New Releases include titles that have been released within the past six-to-eight weeks, while the Family category includes newly released family-friendly titles as well as best-selling movies. The UHD category features movies that were recently released in UHD. Each category is refreshed weekly with new and top selling content.

Samsung’s partnership with Rakuten TV, a leading provider of UHD∙HDR movies and VOD content, delivers a wide range of options for movie enthusiasts and families to enjoy. Among the various UHD movies available via TV PLUS are titles such as “Passengers,” “Moneyball,” “Hotel Transylvania” and many more.

A Growing Platform

TV PLUS was first launched in 2015 in South Korea and its reach continues to grow. It’s already available across North America and Southeast Asia. In January 2017, TV PLUS was also made available in Germany.

Since its release, TV PLUS has continued to gain popularity across all available markets thanks to its volume and quality of content. TV PLUS has more than 8,900 titles available in the US, and its partnership with the BBC means that masterpiece documentaries such as “Planet Earth II” are available for Korean users. As of June 2017, TV PLUS is used by more than 480,000 people in Korea and Southeast Asia. 70% of Smart TV users in Korea are watching TV PLUS channels, and 41% of Smart TV users in Vietnam are using TV PLUS.

As TV PLUS is expected to additionally expand its influence in European markets such as France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, Samsung Electronics will be further enhancing its smart TV content competitiveness in the world.

“With the “See the Unexpected” series, we wanted to showcase the unique talents of these athletes against some of the most beautiful backdrops and locations in the world,” said Sunghee Han, Vice President of Samsung’s Visual Display business. “When watching the video series on Samsung QLED TVs, which are able to produce 100 percent color volume, viewers can witness the incredible detail, vibrant colors and every frame of the action in the best picture quality available.”

The “See the Unexpected” video series features Red Bull athletes including parkour athlete, Jason Paul, motorcyclist Robbie Maddison and wakeboarder Felix Georgii. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Jason Paul is world-class free runner who spends his time travelling the world, turning cities into playgrounds. Paul was named Red Bull’s Art of Motion champion from 2010 to 2012. Robbie Maddison, born in Australia, holds the world record for the highest jump in motorcycling and has also won the Best Stunt with a Vehicle honor at the Taurus World Stunt Awards in 2013 for his work in the film “Skyfall.” Felix Georgii, born in Germany, is pushing the boundaries of wakeboarding by focusing on hitting gnarly rails and ledges.

With Morocco serving as the backdrop in the video series, the athletes took their talents to “unexpected” places to perform various high-action maneuvers, with locations including Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue City” for its vibrant color, a swimming pool in Marrakech and a port city named Essaouira. Each location was selected to highlight the juxtaposition between the unique and colorful locations of Morocco with the impeccable talents of each athlete and their performances.

Through the partnership, Samsung and Red Bull are aiming to showcase uncharted destinations and share new and surprising action that normally wouldn’t take place in these locations. In bringing together the best in extreme sports and the best in picture quality, viewers are able to see first-hand the top-quality performance of Samsung’s premium televisions, as well as the capabilities and talent of Red Bull athletes.

“Working with two of the world’s most elite brands in such an amazing location has been a highlight of my career,” stated Red Bull athlete, Robbie Maddison. “We took an incredible adventure and produced some amazing content that I’m honored to share. Playing sports in unusual locations was very surreal and it’s been a dream to collaborate with other elite athletes like Felix and Jason to create this visual masterpiece in the best quality available.”

The videos, along with a 30-minute documentary piece, will launch on Samsung’s TV Plus channel, as well as Samsung and Red Bull digital channels on June 29. Customers who visit select Samsung retail locations can view the four-minute “See the Unexpected” video on Samsung’s large-scale QLED TV screen.

To learn more about Samsung televisions, please visit www.samsung.com. To learn more about Red Bull, visit www.redbull.com.

The ‘Smart Hub’ interface, for example, combines live TV channels, set-top box channels and IP channels and shows them in an intuitive manner. One Remote Control can automatically detect and control almost all connected devices, which are displayed with instantly recognizable icons and names. Equipped with Samsung’s TV Plus service, QLED TV also offers the easiest and fastest way to find, purchase and watch the latest 4K films and entertainment.

Furthermore, with the latest version of the Samsung Smart View app, users can not only search content easily, but also access essential functions on their smartphone through an interface like the one on their TV.

Learn more about the seamless navigation and unified experience enabled by QLED TV’s smart features in the video below.

For additional information about the smart features of 2017 QLED TV, check out the following links:

New Smart Features of QLED TV

Infographic on the Evolution of Samsung Smart TV

Smart TV Service Update

Samsung Electronics and Rakuten Wuaki, a leading provider of 4K high dynamic range (HDR) movies and video-on-demand (VOD) content, announced the expanded availability of Samsung’s TV PLUS service at MIPTV (Marché International des Programmes de Télévision) in Cannes. With this announcement, Rakuten Wuaki, partnered with Samsung, becomes the first VOD service to sell newly released, premium 4K HDR movies across Europe.

Launched in Germany in January 2017, TV PLUS will be available in five European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom with contents tailored for consumers in the region. This user-friendly service allows Samsung Smart TV owners to quickly navigate and access popular VOD channels using their internet connection.

“At Samsung, our goal is to help our consumers discover the content they want to watch, rather than make it difficult to find,” said Heeman Lee, Vice President of Connective TV services at Samsung Electronics. “With this in mind, we’re proud to partner with Rakuten Wuaki to expand availability of TV PLUS in Europe, offering the fastest way to discover the latest 4K HDR movies and entertainment on Samsung QLED TVs.”

Samsung TV PLUS is an innovative experience that allows users to easily access contents, including 4K (and HDR), Newly Release, Kids, Action and Comedy movies and their previews from IP-based TV channels run by Rakuten Wuaki.

The application’s interface features a scrolling channel menu similar to that of traditional cable or satellite TV providers, which allows users to quickly and directly rent or purchase their favorite high quality movies. This process makes the user experience both streamlined and enjoyable, presenting unique and game-changing opportunity to maximize the potential of 4K HDR quality movies within the predominant linear TV experience.

“Through TV PLUS, Rakuten and Samsung have been able to come together to offer consumers a wide variety of content options from an assortment of different genres and interests. A complete offer for everyone in the family,” said Jacinto Roca, chief executive officer of Rakuten Wuaki. “Rakuten is excited to grow our partnership with Samsung as we continue to look for new, innovative ways for users to consume the content they desire.”

Samsung and Rakuten Wuaki held an exclusive event to celebrate this partnership at MIPTV 2017, showcasing demonstrations of TV PLUS for both media and Hollywood studios. MIPTV serves as the global marketplace for TV and digital content for all genres and all screens, featuring a number of programs in support for the global media industry.

First introduced in 2015 in South Korea, TV PLUS continues to gain popularity across all available markets including Southeast Asia and North America.

About Rakuten Wuaki.tv

Rakuten Wuaki.tv is a video-on-demand (VOD) streaming service, offering thousands of hours of high quality movies and TV series for rental, purchase and also within a Subscription package. Rakuten Wuaki.tv’s extensive catalogue in specifically dedicated to the entire family, reaching all kind of likes within it. It includes content from major Hollywood studios such Warner, Disney, Sony, and Fox, production companies like as HBO, and European distributors, giving consumers access to new releases, blockbusters, classic movies and TV series on the device of their choosing. Rakuten Wuaki.tv’s content can be streamed to Internet-connected PCs, laptops, gaming consoles, tablets, iPhones, Chromecast and Smart TVs.

“Despite some challenges, we’ve made big strides in 2016, gaining market share in TVs, home appliances, wearables and smartphones,” said Tim Baxter, President and Chief Operating Officer of Samsung Electronics America. “By listening to our consumers and building on our heritage of innovation, we are delivering on our vision of the future – one that is powered by connected and elegantly-designed products and services that put consumers firmly at the center.”

Samsung QLED, the Next Innovation in TV

Featuring incredible advancements in the development of Quantum dot technology, Samsung unveiled the 75-inch Q8C QLED TV, which adds new metal material to nano-sized semiconductor quantum dots to deliver the perfect mix of light and color currently available in display technology. The result is a stunning large-screen QLED TV, with an incredibly accurate and precise picture that can be viewed from any angle or in any environment.

Samsung QLED TV takes Quantum dot technology to new heights with advanced light efficiency and stability, as well as a wider color spectrum than ever before. The new QLED TV also features truly deep black levels, perfect 100% color volume when measured with DCI perfect match, and HDR optimal brightness of 1,500 – 2,000 nits. Samsung QLED TV’s new panel design also reduces reflection so consumers can see every bold detail with unbelievable levels of contrast. Finally, QLED delivers this level of performance regardless of where one is sitting, with consistent color and picture quality from any viewing angle.

New design elements introduced by Samsung enhance the QLED TV experience even further.

The practically invisible optical cable helps to solve the issue of unsightly cords and clutter that can be found in the home with a sleek, single cord system. Additional accessories include the optional “No-Gap Wall Mount,” which makes mounting a TV flush against the wall simpler and faster than ever before. Finally, for those who desire a variety of stylish options when displaying their TV, Samsung introduced two new optional elegant TV stands – Gravity and Studio – that appeal to the consumer who prefers an un-mounted TV.

In addition to the new TVs, Samsung also detailed plans to deliver a more unified experience for customers using various services and devices. Last year’s hit Samsung One Remote has been enhanced to support even more devices and offer voice control capabilities across more Smart TV features. And Samsung SmartView app – available on Android and iOS – allow users to get their personalized SmartHub experience right on their phone, as well as notifications of new content even when the user’s TV is off.

New to the Smart TV experience in 2017 is the Samsung Sports service. The Sports Service ensures that sports fans will never miss a moment, with customizable content and alerts based on a user’s team preferences, powered by real-time partnerships with the biggest content players in sports today.

Rounding out this year’s new Smart TV portfolio of offerings, Samsung has extended its popular global service, TV PLUS, to the U.S. market. A new entertainment app exclusively available on Samsung Smart TVs, TV PLUS conveniently brings high quality content into a single app on your TV for the most premium viewing experience. Paired with Samsung Checkout, TV Plus is the fastest way to connect with the entertainment consumers love, right out of the box. In addition, Samsung has also partnered with FandangoNow in the U.S. to bring instant access to rent or buy more than 40,000 movies and shows, including new releases in 4K HDR.

Additionally, Samsung announced their newest lifestyle TV innovation. The new Lifestyle TV offers a sleek, stunning design that was curated with an artful approach. This new TV was designed to appear just like a picture would appear on a wall, outfitted with an invisible cable that allows it to hang anywhere in the home, and blend seamlessly into any living space without those unsightly cables or wires. The Lifestyle TV was awarded a “2017 Best of Innovation Award” at CES 2017 and will be launched later this year.

Samsung showcased its 2017 lineup of home audio visual products, including the new Soundbar Sound+ which features a built-in sub-woofer, H7 Wireless Audio and the latest UHD Blu-ray Player. The products reflect a comprehensive suite of premium features with an eye toward heightened integration, as well as a premium, simplistic design that complements the user experience across multiple devices. Finally, the new Soundbar and H7 feature the rich and detailed sound of UHQ 32bit, which upscales from any source that provides 8-24bit sound.

Unprecedented Flexibility in the Home

Samsung unveiled a truly differentiated line of home appliances to give consumers more flexibility and choice in how they cook, clean and connect.

Bringing more flexibility into the laundry room, Samsung introduced FlexWash + FlexDry to meet the needs of today’s busy families. FlexWash is equipped with a 5.0 cu. ft. capacity front load washer, the largest in its class¹, to handle normal or bulky loads. It adds another cubic foot of capacity in a separate compartment on top for washing smaller loads separately from the main load. Both washers can run separately or simultaneously with different settings.

Meanwhile, FlexDry has the ability to tackle large laundry loads while gently drying a few delicate items at the same time at the top of the dryer. Suitable for items like athletic wear or a silk scarf, the unique Delicate Rack zone adjusts the heat automatically depending on the type of fabric being dried.

Signaling the company’s commitment to investing in categories in which its expertise and innovation can enrich and empower the lives of consumers, Samsung also introduced its line of new smart built-in appliances. This includes a new combination wall oven microwave, upgraded dishwasher, and matching line of premium refrigerators.

During the press conference, Samsung also announced Family Hub 2.0, the next generation of its award-winning refrigerator. Building upon Family Hub 1.0, which was introduced to wide acclaim last year, Family Hub 2.0 expands from four to 10 refrigerator models, so consumers can choose the refrigerator that best matches their household needs. It also features enhanced usability with intuitive app integration and new app partners to help families stay connected, manage food, and access more entertainment features on the refrigerator’s 21.5” LED touchscreen. For added convenience, Samsung’s advanced voice technology has also been integrated across many of Family Hub 2.0’s apps.

Fueling Passions with New Mobile Devices and Computers

This year at CES, Samsung introduced the next generation of mobile computing, with a range of new premium PCs that reflect the company’s commitment to design, craftsmanship, and choice. They include the Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro, a 15-inch Notebook 9 with a discrete GPU, and Samsung’s first-ever gaming laptop, the Notebook Odyssey.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro are premium convertible laptops designed for Google Play, and can run millions of apps from the Google Play Store. The new Chromebooks feature a sleek yet durable metal body, and also go from notebook to tablet in a single snap. Thanks to Quad HD screen, the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro perform equally well as both tablet and laptop, and are also the very first Chromebooks to come with an embedded digitizer pen. The Chromebook Plus will be available with an ARM CPU, and for those looking for even stronger performance, the Chromebook Pro will be powered by an Intel core M3 CPU.

Samsung’s new 15-inch Notebook 9, which will be available in the U.S. this year, is built for maximum performance and exceptional mobility. Powered by the 7^th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processor, it also features a discrete GPU to tackle even the most hardware intensive tasks, from photo and video editing, to running programs on multiple monitors.

Lastly, Samsung’s first-ever gaming laptop, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey, offers a mobile experience that rivals a desktop rig for power, speed and comfort while still being light enough to carry in a backpack. The laptop will be available in 15 and 17-inch screen sizes. The 15-inch Odyssey is powered by Intel’s 7^th-generation Core i7 processor, with up to 32 GB of 2400 Mhz DDR4 RAM, up to 256 GB SSD and HDD dual storage, and an NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics card. More details on the17-inch Notebook Odyssey will be unveiled later this Spring.

Usability has also been enhanced with a built-in shortcut to maximize performance. At the push of a button, supercharge the Odyssey’s processor, graphics, and memory to realize the absolute best gaming experience.

For more information on this press release including photos, videos and relevant Samsung Newsroom articles, please visit news.samsung.com/global. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of the Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center, and will be open from January 5-8, 2017. To learn more about CES 2017, please visit www.ces.tech.

¹ Based on product dimensions.

Samsung Electronics today announced it will introduce three new Smart TV services at CES 2017, to be held January 5 through January 9, 2017 in Las Vegas. The new services – including ‘Sports’, ‘Music’ and ‘TV Plus’ – will offer personalized content to consumers based on their TV preferences through Samsung’s Smart Hub platform.

“At Samsung, one of our top priorities is ensuring that we are closely in tune with what consumers want and need from their smart devices and electronics,” said Won Jin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With that in mind, we continue to innovate our Smart TV offering in order to provide the content experiences that our customers have come to know and expect from Samsung.”

Samsung’s Smart TV ‘Sports’ service will provide sports fans with information on when their favorite teams are playing, where they can watch it as well as scores – all in one navigation page. Instead of having to flip through dozens of channels to find the big game, all details will be curated by the customized ‘Sports’ user interface.

Samsung plans to further expand the range of content offered through the ‘Sports’ service with additional content partners including NBC Sports, UFC and more.

The Samsung ‘Music’ service will allow Smart TV customers to easily search and identify songs on live TV or directly from television programs. ‘Music’ will also make recommendations in the ‘Preview’ section of Smart Hub’s user interface for customers to discover new music and play songs as they please.

The Samsung ‘Music’ service currently offers content from eight music app partners including Spotify, iHeartRadio, Napster, Deezer, Sirius XM, Vevo, Melon and Bugs. The service will be available starting in France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Lastly, ‘TV Plus’ will offer IP-based channels focused on premium content services through a new Smart Electronic Program Guide (EPG) solution. Samsung customers will no longer have to wait for cable services to offer marathon sessions of their favorite TV shows and can watch immediately just by turning on a TV Plus channel.

Samsung first launched ‘TV Plus’ in South East Asia, is now also available in the U.S., and will be available in Europe in April, 2017. Samsung will partner with Fandango and Rakuten to provide premium T-VOD content in the U.S. and Europe, respectively, and with Funke to A-VOD content in Germany.

Samsung Electronics today announced that its TV PLUS service is now available in Thailand and Vietnam on 2016 Samsung Smart TV UHD Models. All other Smart TV models, including Full HD Smart TVs, will be supported by the end of June. The TV PLUS service enables users to find exciting video clips by simply moving to designated channels, instead of having to toggle between different apps.

As a part of the TV PLUS upgrade, users in Thailand and Vietnam will automatically receive four popular Korean Pop channels of CJ E&M’s ‘Tving TV’ including Awesome Singers (Channel 101/555), KPOP Boy Group Stage (Channel 102/556), KPOP Girl Group Stage (Channel 103/557), and M Countdown (Channel 104/558). Further ahead in 2016, Samsung plans to collaborate with additional global and local content partners to expand the channels and variety offered on the service.

“We are thrilled to offer TV PLUS and exciting K-POP content to our users in Thailand and Vietnam,” said WonJin Lee, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “TV PLUS is a new kind of Smart TV service that creates a better user experience, and enables consumers to watch their favorite programming in a more integrated way. We are committed to continuing to develop and launch new services that meet the unique needs of our Smart TV owners.”

TV PLUS can be enjoyed by simply connecting an eligible Smart TV to the Internet through a LAN-line or Wi-Fi network. For those who have agreed to the Smart Hub terms of use, relevant software upgrades are automatically initiated once connected to the internet so consumers can use the service instantly and without the need for further installment or registration. Users with cable TV and IPTV can join the fun by selecting TV PLUS on their Smart Hub home screens.

TV PLUS is a kind of video-on-demand (VOD) service that enables users who have their Samsung Smart TV connected to the Internet to watch a wide selection of content for free. The “channels” are added automatically when the TV detects an Internet connection, without the need to subscribe to the service or install an application.

The service is designed to seamlessly and conveniently combine the linear TV experience with VOD service.

Starting soon in Thailand and Vietnam, then expanding to other countries around Southeast Asia, Samsung’s TV PLUS will feature K-pop and music content, as well as programs about education, food, travel and beauty.

Samsung launched TV PLUS in Korea in October 2015, featuring 33 channels and a wide range of content, including dramas, music and education. One-fifth of Samsung Smart TV users have watched TV PLUS, and their rate of revisiting the service exceeds 80 percent.

Samsung’s TV PLUS service made its debut in Korea in October 2015.

“TV PLUS is a new concept in smart TV services, enabling users to watch their favorite programs more easily,” said Won Jin Lee, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will offer a variety of services that will make smart TV feel more familiar to customers.”

The new Samsung 2016 Smart TVs for Southeast Asian countries will also feature All Care Protection, an enhancement to Samsung’s Triple Protection that guards against damage caused by unstable conditions, such as electrical surges, lightning and humidity.

With All Care Protection, Samsung TVs are designed to minimize ventilation, to limit dust and insects. Samsung All Care Protection also restricts the types of files permitted to be played, minimizing the risk of viruses.

In addition, Samsung’s lineup of TVs, from premium to entry-level, utilizes a feature called Clean View, which automatically eliminates noise from TV signals by analyzing the video source. With Clean View technology, analog broadcasts can be enjoyed with a much-improved picture quality.

Samsung is working to develop services and features for its products based on an in-depth understanding of the evolving tastes and unique needs of consumers in each region.

Yong Sung Jeon, President & CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia & Oceania, talks about the 2016 Samsung TV lineup to a full house at the Samsung Southeast Asia Forum 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.