Digital music service, Deezer has inked a deal with Samsung, LG, and Toshiba to incorporate their streaming app into their Smart TVs. While these ecosystems are more or less walled gardens, it’s good to see some new entrants to the space. The majority of Smart TV owners are accessing Over the Top services but few are exploring non-video apps like Facebook so expect Deezer’s supposed 600 million reach to be drastically smaller. However, if the TV does becomes the hub for all media in the future, then that number may actually be attainable.
Tag: samsung
The Trigger: Samsung Announcements
Samsung’s Smart TV Gets Serious
Most people who own a Samsung Smart TV don’t actually ever set it up. Maybe it is the lack of third party apps or clunky UI or perhaps mainstream consumers still want a passive viewing experience. Recent announcements from today’s Samsung press conference may just change that.
First of all, there is the hardware. Their newest flagship TV is the F 800 which maxes out at 75 inches. The LED-backlit LCD has a quad-core processor so it has fast performance unlike past smart TVs. Additionally, the UI (connected TVs biggest downfall to date) has a revamp with five panels that you can cycle through offering the various apps and other features.
From a marketing perspective, there are two major developments that are going to alter the TV viewing experience significantly. The first is S-Recommendation which delivers personalized recommendations pulling from Live TV, on-demand content and streaming services. Then there is T-Commerce which allows users to make purchases all through the connected TV experience. To demonstrate, a middle-aged Samsung Exec just purchased Jess’ outfit on Gossip Girl. These development could be monumental for product placements and other strategic partnerships as T-Commerce shortens the purchase funnel significantly.
TV Tech: 4K And OLED Showcases At CES
CES has always been about jaw-dropping TV tech and this year will be no different. While Samsung’s $9,000 55 inch OLED TV made a big splash in 2012, we might see less innovation and more focus on “semi-affordable” products for existing technologies like 4K ultra HD along with OLED. It is also great to see CES hosting a full-day Second Screen Summit with executives from major networks, tech companies, and agencies including UM¹s Michael Barrett. We’ll be sure to fill you in on details of that event, which has a special panel dedicated to opportunities in the advertising world.
