Samsung Electronics Underscores Global Leadership in Smart TV Content and Services at IFA 2012

TV pioneer showcases world’s first ‘set-top box free’ IPTV service at IFA; brings robust content choices to European consumers of all backgrounds

BERLIN, Germany – 3 September, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, highlighted today in advance of IFA its industry-leading base of content for Samsung Smart TV owners in Europe—including myriad options across broadcast video-on-demand (VOD), movies, sports and lifestyle for consumers of any background.

As a testament to its unique partnerships with Europe’s largest telecom and cable operators, Samsung gives European consumers access to a variety of unique apps catering to live broadcast and VOD viewing. Most recently, Samsung has partnered with telecommunications operator TeliaSonera to develop a Smart TV application that will allow existing IPTV without the need for an external set-top box, with full support for key linear, catch-up and on-demand features. Earmarked as the industry’s first “set-top box free” IPTV service, the new app will be demonstrated in beta at Samsung’s booth during IFA 2012. The Smart TV application will first be launched on TeliaSonera´s Estonian market, followed by Sweden and Finland. 

FranceTV has also made content available for catch-up and VOD viewing across Samsung’s SmartReplay platform for Smart TV in France, including FranceTV, a hub gathering all FranceTV applications; FranceTV Pluzz, which aggregates five channels for catch-up and VOD viewing; FranceTV Info, which features all national and regional TV news on replay; FranceTV Sport, broadcasting all sporting news on replay; and ZouZous, an app featuring exclusive kids content and games for catch-up and VOD viewing. And in the UK, Samsung is the only Smart TV with ITV Player, a catch up TV service to access programmes broadcast from ITV channels.

“Our partnerships in France and across all of Europe underscore more than just Samsung’s global leadership in content for Smart TV,” said Kyung-shik Lee, Vice President of Business Development Group, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “These deals, and the current base of apps available, underscore how Samsung is leading a revolution in the TV operator industry—including significant changes in the way consumers use their televisions. We are proud to be working with such influential partners in the industry. These movements—along with our existing focus on integrating useful services—strengthen our goal to create a seamless TV watching experience catering to any background or lifestyle.”

For sports aficionados, Samsung has made a variety of Smart TV apps that keep fans up to speed on the latest sports news and statistics. Across Europe, THE Football app offers in-depth coverage of more than 40 football leagues and events worldwide—with continuous updates to provide fans with breaking news, live commentaries, and statistics along with video highlights and a truly immersive viewing experience in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish languages. In the Netherlands, Eredivise Live showcases Dutch Premiere League soccer on T-VOD, while NOS Sports broadcasts Euro 2012, Tour de France, Olympics and UEFA Champions league content live and on-demand for free. In Spain, LigaBBVA delivers Spanish Soccer League content, and also features a mobile app allowing the user to control content within LigaBBVA from his or her smart phone. 

For movie buffs, the Spanish app Filmin allows consumers to rent movies right from their Smart TV, while in Poland, Strefa VOD offers access to hundreds of the most interesting movie titles in the world, as well as Polish cinema, in high quality audio and video—including a convenient payment system. And for general lifestyle enthusiasts, several unique Samsung Apps for Smart TV are available: 3 op Reis plays the most popular weekly travel show on Dutch Television for consumers in the Netherlands and in Austria; ServusTV offers vividly depicted cultural, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle portraits alongside special local and regional features; finally in Poland, Wycieczk helps consumers find the perfect holiday getaway via customized search capabilities.

Full details, video content and product images are available at Samsung’s IFA 2012 microsite: http://www.samsungifa2012.com or mobile site: m.samsungifa2012.com as well.