Samsung TV Plus India becomes the first APAC market to achieve 100+ FAST channels

Samsung Electronics India celebrates the milestone of more than one hundred channels featured on its premium, free ad-supported TV service (FAST), Samsung TV Plus in India, with the launch of seven new channels.

Samsung Smart TV users in India now have even more choice on the TV Plus platform, enjoying high-quality global and local content across news, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle – all for free.

The seven news channels include Zee News, Zee Business, ABP News, ABP Ananda, ABP Sanjha, Zee 24 Ghanta, and Times Now Navbharat. Since launching in India in 2021, Samsung TV Plus’s vast range of local news has increased tenfold.

Part of Samsung’s commitment to championing local content in the Indian market, where there is heightened demand for FAST content, is partnering with leading Indian broadcaster and media groups, including NDTV, 9x Media, TV Today, One Take Media, Republic, SAB Group and Qyou. More than half of the content now shown on Samsung TV Plus is from local providers, making Samsung TV Plus a leader in the FAST market.

On Samsung Smart TVs in India, AVOD now outpaces SVOD growth when it comes to time spent streaming; in Q1 this year, AVOD – which includes Samsung TV Plus – accounted for 89% of all streaming time. Monthly active users of Samsung TV Plus in India have also increased 71% year-on-year, with average session time increasing an incredible 240%.

This growth is reflected in global research from Amagi, which showed that APAC had by far the highest FAST performance compared to North America, Europe and Latin America, when looking at factors like growth in hours of viewing (+320% year-on-year between Q2 2022 and Q2 2021), and growth in ad impressions (+891% in the same period).

Indian consumers are also turning to Samsung TV Plus for its exclusive, owned and operated (O&O) channels, including the best of South Indian movies in Hindi with South Station, Bollywood blockbusters on Movie Club, and to ensure the platform continues to deliver on Indian consumer favourites a dedicated Bollywood Desi channel.

Launched globally in 2018 as one of the first FAST services by a device manufacturer, Samsung TV Plus has steadily expanded its reach and content offering to deliver more than 1,600 channels worldwide, and more than 30 owned & operated channels.

Prabhvir Sahmey, Senior Director at Samsung Ads India said: “The growth of Samsung TV Plus is something we are very proud of in India. We have successfully launched, and continued to invest in, a service that is unique to the market and is clearly resonating with audiences, content providers and advertisers alike. The greater range of premium content provides audiences with greater choice of free content -whilst also giving the opportunity for advertisers to reach audiences in a more targeted and addressable environment. Samsung TV Plus will continue to play an integral role in the growth of FAST in India by offering greater value, variety and accessibility to free TV content for audiences.”

Kuna Mehta, Head Partnerships at Samsung TV Plus India said of the announcement: “The launch of more premium content and local channels unique to India indicates the value and growth that Samsung TV Plus offers as a service. And to be the first market in APAC for Samsung to reach one hundred channels is testament to this, and the appetite for FAST content. We are always on the lookout for new potential partnerships with content providers who see the great potential that a rapidly growing FAST service like Samsung TV Plus India has to enable their content to reach more and new audiences.”

Disclaimer: Information mentioned here has not been verified or endorsed by Agency Reporter and is in accordance with the press release shared by the company or their appointed representatives.