Observed Signal · Jan 28, 2026 · Milestone · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Samsung TV Plus Tops 100M Monthly Users
Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming service, reported surpassing 100 million monthly active users globally. Samsung said the milestone coincides with a 25% year-over-year increase in streaming hours and a 92% three-month user retention rate. The service — pre-installed across Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy devices — offers over 4,300 channels in 30 countries and emphasizes interactive features and creator channels (e.g., Mark Rober, Dhar Mann) plus deals with sports leagues and partners such as Spotify and David Letterman. The article notes measurement comparisons are complicated because Samsung TV Plus is not included in Nielsen’s monthly “The Gauge” report. The growth strengthens Samsung’s position in the FAST/CTV market and expands ad-supported inventory during a period of rising FAST ad revenue projections.
A major hardware platform (Samsung) scaling to 100M MAUs materially increases CTV/FAST ad inventory and changes competitive dynamics for advertisers, publishers and measurement; impacts buying, measurement and monetization strategies across the industry.
Track Samsung TV Plus Signals & Market Shifts in Real-Time
Polaris7 autonomous intelligence agents track regulatory filings, primary sources, executive changes, and deal flow 24/7. Create your free Explorer workspace to monitor these entities.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Samsung TV Plus surpassed 100 million monthly active users globally.
- Samsung reported a 25% year-over-year increase in streaming hours.
- Samsung reported a 92% user retention rate after three months.
- Service offers over 4,300 channels across 30 countries and is pre-installed on Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy devices.
- Samsung is investing in creator channels (e.g., Mark Rober, Dhar Mann) and partnerships with sports leagues, Spotify and David Letterman.
Connected Companies & Entities
5 Entities mappedOntology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
State of Streaming Adds Samsung TV Plus Profile
Samsung TV Plus is Samsung Electronics' free, ad-supported streaming service pre-installed on Samsung Smart TVs and Galaxy devices. Launched in 2015 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the service offers 250+ live channels across FAST/AVOD-style programming. The State of Streaming site lists Samsung TV Plus as a major streaming app and references coverage reporting the service reached 100 million users (coverage dated 2026-01-28). Samsung TV Plus sits inside Samsung's media family alongside Samsung Ads Data & Measurement and is positioned as an OEM-distributed CTV/streaming inventory source for advertisers and partners.
Samsung Pushes Free TV via Samsung TV Plus at CES
At CES 2026 Samsung and partners including NBCUniversal and Smosh outlined a strategy emphasizing free ad-supported TV (FAST) on Samsung TV Plus to address subscription fatigue. Samsung positioned TV Plus as a complement to subscription services that lets studios monetize back catalogs on FAST without cannibalizing premium offerings. The panel highlighted creator-led channels (e.g., Smosh) moving from mobile to CTV, using FAST distribution to boost production and reach. Samsung also showcased new hardware, including a 130‑inch Micro RGB TV, while external analysis noted competitive pressure on the TV market from Chinese manufacturers. Executives quoted include Bruce Casino (EVP, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution), Alessandra Catanese (CEO, Smosh) and Salek Brodsky (Head, Samsung TV Plus).
Audible launches AI-powered character chats and interactive stories
Audible, Amazon's audiobook subsidiary, has introduced three new features to enhance listening experiences and counter competition from Spotify. The features include 'Visual Explorer' for supplementary imagery, a 'Character Guide' for tracking characters in real-time, and 'Interactive Stories' powered by generative AI that let listeners converse with characters. These features initially launch with select Audible Originals like 'Dracula', '1984', and 'Exoplanet'. The Character Guide shows who is speaking and provides character cards with narrator bios. Interactive Stories allow listeners to respond to characters in their own words, with reactions generated in real-time. The features are in beta and will expand to more titles over time. This move comes as audiobook sales in the U.S. reached $2.43 billion in 2025, driven by smartphone usage and platforms like TikTok's BookTok.
Track Real-Time Market Signals & Shifts
Set up custom watchlists to receive automated, evidence-grounded executive digests whenever material signals or shifts occur across your tracked landscape.