Samsung Electronics is partnering with several manufacturers of smart television sets to bring their Tizen operating system to third-party hardware.
The deals include licensing agreements with Treasure Creek and Kayve Groupo, which manufacture smart TVs under the RCA brand in the United States, Canada and Mexico and which will start using Samsung’s Tizen OS in newer-model RCA TVs sold at brick-and-mortar stores and online in the coming years.
Other brands that will start using Tizen OS for their smart TVs include EKO and QBell in Australia and Europe and Axdia in Germany, Samsung said this week.
Historically, Tizen OS was available exclusively on Samsung’s own smart TVs, monitors and other devices. Samsung is the global leader in smart TVs shipped and sold, and Tizen OS is one of the most-used smart TV operating systems in the world, second only to Android TV.
Like other TV companies, Samsung has evolved its hardware business over time to be less reliant on sales — most people who want a smart TV already have one. In recent years, Samsung has focused more on its platform business — selling ads against the home screen of its smart TVs and monitors running Tizen OS, and alongside content available within hundreds of its free streaming channels and on-demand shows and movies that are also baked into the operating system.
Licensing Tizen OS will help Samsung grow its platform business by reaching streamers with smart TVs that are manufactured by a number of other companies, including RCA. For manufacturers, the partnership means they can focus on the hardware side of their business while integrating a well-known, time-tested operating system that supports most of the premium apps and services consumers want.
“Tizen OS is recognized for its performance, reliability, and innovation,” said Samsung Electronics Vice President Jooyoung Kim. “This year, we are focused on expanding our licensing program and creating diverse collaboration strategies for our key partners. We are serious about growing our global partner network and enhancing the ecosystem. By offering expanded regional support, an enriched app ecosystem, and tailored marketing resources, we aim to deliver even greater value to consumers worldwide.”
“Partnering with Samsung on Tizen OS allows us to deliver high-quality and competitive smart TV solutions to our global brand customers,” said Gerard Louis, the Chief Operating Officer at Axdia.
“We are proud to expand our RCA TV portfolio across Mexico and Latin America through our partnership with Samsung’s Tizen OS,” said Jonathan Vera, the Head of Marketing & Communications at Grupo Kayve, which sells RCA-branded TVs in Mexico. “The Tizen team provides comprehensive technical and marketing support, enabling an agile go-to-market process.”
