Endemol Shine launches trio of channels on Samsung’s TV Plus

MasterChef

Endemol Shine Group is launching a raft of channels via Samsung’s TV Plus service.

The super-indie – which is in the process of being acquired by Banijay Group – has launched a trio of UK channels on the smart TV platform, with further channel launches planned in the US and across Europe in the coming months.

Established in 2016, Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported video service covering news, sports, entertainment and more. It comes pre-installed on all 2016 to 2019 Samsung smart TVs. Endemol Shine is distributing its content to TV Plus via Wurl, a provider of streaming video distribution and advertising services for connected TV.

The three UK channels to launch on TV Plus are Reel Truth, Masters of Food and All Drama.

The Reel Truth channel initially launched on YouTube in 2017, and will host a variety of factual documentaries and series, such as Crime Investigation Australia, Drug Lords and Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections.

Meanwhile, Masters Of Food will showcase the super-indie’s food programming slate, including series from the Australian and Canadian versions of MasterChef.

Finally, All Drama will feature such scripted offerings as Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters, British crime series Wire In The Blood, and the Robert Carlyle-fronted mystery drama Hamish McBeth.

Endemol Shine Group has been leveraging a number of innovative distribution partnerships for its content in recent years, particularly with digital players. It licenses and self-publishes content across a range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Amazon, Roku and Xumo.

Kasia Jablonska, head of digital distribution and monetisation for Endemol Shine Group, said, “The curation of dynamic channels and delivering our content through OTT platforms is a core focus for our digital business. It’s the space which is about to explode and Endemol Shine is very much a part of the avant-garde.

“Our partnership with Samsung TV Plus is testament to the enduring appeal of our extensive library of shows, and by working with distribution partners such as Wurl, we are able to meet the demands of our rapidly developing audiences.”

Sean Doherty, CEO of Wurl, added: “The future of TV viewing is through connected TVs, and industry titans like Endemol Shine Group are poised for continued success because they’re capitalising on this shift.

“For video producers, the Wurl Network powers distribution and advertising on the world’s leading video services. We’re proud to support Endemol Shine Group as they continue their international channel expansion.”