Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Samsung TV Plus reaches 88 million active users on a monthly basis, fueled mostly by younger viewers in the United States, the company said this week.
The service, which is available on Samsung’s smart TVs, tablets and phones, as well as through the Samsung TV Plus website to those with an active Samsung account, has experienced a 50 percent year-over increase in use around the world — but it’s the company’s hard-core users in the United States who have spurred the most growth, specifically among Gen Z’ers, Millennials and Gen X’ers who are more likely to watch streaming content relative to older demographics.
“The success of Samsung TV Plus reflects our commitment to delivering a superior user experience with high-quality content that resonates with consumers,” said Salek Brodsky, Senior Vice President & General Manager at Samsung TV Plus. “When we embarked on this ambitious journey, our vision was to offer a premium streaming alternative that was both simple to use and free. The strategic bets we made nearly a decade ago have established a strong foundation for a service now enjoyed by 88 million streamers each month, and the path ahead is bright and promises continued growth well into the future.”
Samsung TV Plus has more than 3,000 channels of streaming content — it counts each channel’s regional variant as separate content streams, even if they offer the same programming, and not all channels are available in all territories or on all devices. (In the United States, “Conan O’Brien TV” is offered, while in the United Kingdom, there is a Samsung-exclusive content stream of the podcast “The Diary of a CEO.”)
The service is proving to be a revenue juicer for Samsung Ads, whose inventory is baked into Samsung TV Plus.
“As the ad-supported streaming ecosystem continues to surge in popularity, Samsung TV Plus has emerged as a clear favorite among viewers across key demographics, with advertisers in prime verticals already leveraging its immense opportunity,” said Michael Scott, Vice President, Head of Ad Sales & Operations, Samsung Ads. “With today’s announcement, it’s evident that our viewers continue to be super leaned in and engaged, choosing to return time and time again. For advertisers looking to drive outcomes and prove results, Samsung TV Plus brings together the best of TV and streaming to offer an effective and measurable performance-driven solution.”
