Samsung TV Plus boosts FAST line-up with TelevisaUnivision, ZDF Studios deals

FAST platform Samsung TV Plus has expanded its offering with two significant deals with Spanish-language media giant TelevisaUnivision and Germany’s ZDF Studios.

TelevisaUnivision has expanded an existing partnership with the launch of 10 new channels from its global streaming service, ViX.

Samsung TV Plus will be the first FAST or AVOD platform to add 10 of ViX’s channels, with content spanning news, sports, entertainment, novelas, comedies and lifestyle.

Channels now available to Samsung TV Plus users in the US are news channel Noticias Univision 24/7, sports service Zona TUDN, Rebelde, and IP-specific channel built around the popular TV show, Cine de Oro, Aqui y Ahora, Cine de Retro, Galanes. Pequenos Gigantes, Como Dice El Dicho and Las 3 Marias.

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Samsung TV Plus and extend the footprint of our leading ViX channels for consumers to enjoy the best in Spanish-language entertainment. This launch builds upon the incredible momentum we’re seeing for ViX and enables us to deliver even more touch points for our audience in all the places they consume content,” said Adam Waltuch, EVP of global distribution and streaming partnerships at TelevisaUnivision.

“With hundreds of channels in the US alone, Samsung TV Plus is not only a destination for premium content we know consumers love, but also one of the leading destinations for Spanish language content. We value our marquee partners like TelevisaUnivision and are thrilled to expand our collaboration that brings even more programming to users that reflects the rich diversity of viewers,” said Takashi Nakano, Senior Director of Content and Business Development, Samsung TV Plus.

The new ViX channels add to existing Samsung TV Plus’ TelevisaUnivision offerings, including Novelas de Romance, Villanos de Novela, JaJaJa and Grandes Parejas. Noticias Univision 24/7: The 24/7 news channel features breaking news, special reports, original content and more.

ZDF Studios to create 20 FAST channels

While the TelevisaUnivision deal will boost the platform’s line-up in the US, in Europe, Samsung TV Plus is to add at least 20 FAST channels through an agreement with ZDF Studios.

The rollout will kick off the launch of two channels exclusive to the platform today – Bares für Rares and ZDF Kocht!

The additions will bring the total number of ZDF Studios channels on Samsung TV Plus to three, building on the existing Terra X documentary channel, which is to get a refresh with new content.

Bares für Rares (Cash or Trash) is one of ZDF’s most popular broadcast series. ZDF Kocht! will encompass highlights from four other existing shows ­– Küchenschlacht (Kitchen Battle), Topfgeldjäger (Money Meals), Stadt, Land, Lecker and Kerners Köche.

Samsung TV Plus is pre-installed on around 10 million Samsung TVs in Germany.

Alex Hole, VP at Samsung Europe, said: “It has been our goal from the beginning to establish Samsung TV Plus as a premium provider for FAST programs. The cooperation with ZDF Studios is a milestone in our programming history. Content is king in the highly fragmented FAST environment, and the cooperation with ZDF Studios allows us to offer our TV viewers new premium content in the entertainment and documentary genres.”

Markus Schäfer, president and CEO of ZDF Studios, said: “For ZDF Studios, FAST channels represent an attractive business area with a wide range of growth prospects. In August 2022, for example, the Terra X channel on Samsung TV Plus was launched extremely successfully. We are now looking forward to launching equally successively 20 more FAST channels across Europe together with our partner Samsung, thus accelerating our FAST growth. We’ll start in Germany with the formats Bares für Rares and ZDF kocht!, which are ideally suited for FAST channel positioning.”