Endemol Shine expands Samsung TV network – including a dedicated Deal or No Deal channel
Endemol Shine is launching more ad-supported channels directly to Samsung smart TVs as the producer and distributor continues to pursue new ways to draw income from its back catalogue.
Endemol Shine has launched more channels direct to Samsung TV, including one airing only Deal or No Deal US.
Back in November 2019, Endemol launched three channels on Samsung TV Plus – the TV software pre-loaded with hundreds of free channels, including a substantial presence from Pluto TV.
Connected TV has made it easier for production studios to cut out middlemen and re-air material from their back catalogues. Accordingly, Endemol's first three channels in the UK were Reel Truth, Masters of Food and All Drama.
Endemol Shine has been experimenting with distribution across numerous digital channels to learn what works where, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Amazon, Roku and Tubi. For streaming, it is working with specialist distributor Wurl, which handles distribution and advertising on these channels to unlock more value from 68,000 hours of programming.
Now, Endemol is expanding this Samsung partnership with channel launches in the US and Germany. Sterling Drama will bring British prestige shows like The Hour (starring Ben Whishaw, Dominic West, and Romola Garai) and historical drama The Mill to audiences. Next month that will be followed with the launch of a channel fully committed to Deal or no Deal US, showing how the market could fragment to a show-by-show basis. Meanwhile, in Germany, scripted drama channel Der Serienkanal launched last week and features Peaky Blinders, Real Humans and Broadchurch adaptation Gracepoint.
Endemol said this extension follows the “successful launch” of genre-based channels in the UK, France, Italy and Spain.
Kasia Jablonska, head of digital distribution and monetisation at Endemol Shine Group, said: “We are very pleased to expend this strategic partnership with Samsung TV into new markets, which is a testament to both strength of Endemol Shine’s catalogue and Samsung TV’s position in OTT market. Samsung TV is at the forefront of the change in media consumption, and with further expansion and developments in technology, it continues deliver an amazing TV experience.”
Earlier this month, streaming stack player Roku launched its own UK channel and stocked it with free, ad-supported content. "People want free content to supplement subscriptions," said Rob Holmes, vice president of programming at Roku. Roku is also positioning itself as a partner to the production partners, which includes Endemol.