Samsung Eyes Open Tizen Ecosystem to Boost FAST Streaming

Samsung is considering building an open ecosystem based on its Tizen operating system, which powers its smart TVs. The company aims to transform its TV platform into a global hub for streaming K content and make it easier for providers to share their content. This could allow the firm to solidify its standing in the Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) market.

Samsung wants to turn its TV system into an open content platform

At the recent “Corporate Meeting to Strengthen Global Competitiveness of Ad-Based Free Real-Time TV (FAST) Services,” Samsung introduced its plan to build an open Tizen OS TV ecosystem. The meeting was hosted by the Korea Communications Commission at the company’s Innovation Museum in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

With the Tizen-based open platform, Samsung will allow content providers to easily create and distribute FAST channels. As a result, anyone will be able to register and organize content according to specified standards. This could help the company offer FAST as a complete platform rather than just a TV feature.

Since hardware differentiation becomes tougher, Samsung now appears to stand out its TVs through content integration. However, metadata standardization will play a big role in this effort. A standardized system for linking content information, advertising data, and product details is important.

“In a situation where the domestic broadcasting and media industry is struggling due to rising production costs and declining advertising revenue resulting from falling viewership ratings, a strategy to actively utilize global distribution platforms like FAST is necessary to find a way out,” said Kim Jong-cheol, Chairman of the K-US Commerce and Industry Committee.

While Samsung offers a Samsung TV Plus FAST platform, it is mainly popular in overseas markets where people want to avoid high TV subscription fees. In Korea, awareness of FAST is still low, so building an open content ecosystem on Tizen could help the company increase adoption. In this effort, it won’t be surprising to see something like a FAST app store on TVs.