Samsung Partners with RTE Digital to Become the First TV Brand to Launch RTE Player on SMART TV
Jul 13. 2012
The new RTE player app offers audiences even more choice as to how and when they view RTE content
Samsung Electronics Co. UK Ireland Ltd and RTÉ Digital https://www.rte.ie/blogs/digital/ today announced that Samsung will be the first TV brand to offer the RTÉ Player App, Ireland’s leading catch up TV service*, on the big screen as part of its Smart TV offering.
The agreement between Samsung and RTÉ will allow Samsung Smart TV users to access a selection of RTÉ’s flagship programmes, via the RTÉ Player App which is available on Samsung Smart TVs, from June. Viewers will be able to access favourites such as Fair City, Home and Away, Saturday Night with Miriam, Fr. Ted, and The Inbetweeners, as well as RTÉ’s GAA coverage, whenever they want, directly on the biggest screen in the home. Available free of charge, the RTÉ Player App will give audiences even more choice as to how and when they view RTÉ content.
Commenting on the launch, Brendan Carr, Product Marketing Manager, Samsung Ireland said, “Samsung is the No.1 TV brand in Ireland, and RTÉ Player is the most popular catch up TV service, so this is a natural partnership. The launch of RTÉ Player is the latest addition to our ever growing library of great TV Apps, and further demonstrates our leadership in the Smart TV category. Catch up TV services are one of the leading drivers of Smart TV usage, so RTÉ Player will be a real added value benefit for Samsung Smart TV owners.’’
”RTÉ’s strategy is to be available wherever and whenever our audience wants.” said Aisling McCabe, Director of Strategic Platforms & Partnerships, RTÉ Digital. ”We’re excited to partner with Samsung on our entry into the Smart TV market. Audience engagement, interaction and satisfaction is our primary focus. Our catch up service puts the viewer firmly in control, allowing them to view RTÉ content whenever they want. Marrying quality content with best-in-class products such as the Samsung Smart TV and the RTÉ Player App will provide an enhanced user experience that will allow the audience greater choice than ever before."
RTÉ Player will join an ever-growing collection of services available on Samsung Smart TVs such as, YouTube, Netflix, Muzu.tv, Facebook and Twitter giving viewers a huge choice of content and entertainment through their television. ‘Samsung Apps’ is the first and biggest App store available for TVs, with over 20 million Apps already downloaded worldwide, proof that consumers are rapidly embracing the Smart TV format. RTÉ Player is also now available online, on mobile, on PS3, and most recently on UPC via their on-demand service.
The RTÉ Player App will work with all Samsung 2012 Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray Players, as well as Samsung 2011 Smart TVs and Blu-ray Players. Samsung’s unrivalled picture quality and premium design provides viewers with a truly cinematic experience for the living room. The newly launched, ES8000 feature Samsung’s 5mm (0.2-inch) ultra-slim bezel and also sports a slim 38mm (1.5-inch) profile which provides more viewing room without increasing the size of the TV.
• Source www.banda.ie
Notes to Editors:
¹ Most number of awards in the UK in 2011 for TV products in T3, Stuff, Home Cinema Choice, What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision, What Satellite & Digital TV, Which? and Wired magazines. Awards relate to the number of Samsung TV’s that have received 5 stars or received group test winner or best buy awards in 2011. [TW3]
About RTÉ Digital
On the 16th May 2012, RTÉ announced the launch of a new division, RTÉ Digital www.rte.ie/blogs/digital/ which is responsible for leading RTÉ’s overall digital strategy. A central part of this strategy is to ensure RTÉ’s content is available wherever and whenever the audience requires. RTÉ Digital harnesses the collective digital expertise of the organisation to bring high-quality content and services to Irish and international audiences across a range of platforms, devices and markets. In addition, RTÉ Digital will continue to manage and develop its stable of industry-leading digital platforms and services such as RTÉ.ie,
www.rte.ie, RTÉ Player
www.rte.ie/player and RTÉ News Now
www.rte.ie/news/player_newsnow.html.
RTÉ Digital’s key priorities are to meet the needs of audiences now and in the future through innovation and technology, engagement with social media, and by playing an active role within the Digital Economy. The division also seeks to develop partnerships with industry-leading companies and organisations, in the areas of technology, design, device manufacture and content provision.
In line with RTÉ’s public service objectives and commercial trading obligations, RTÉ Digital is also managing and implementing a new e-commerce and merchandising strategy to grow revenue. At the core of this strategy will be the development of premium on-demand services, digital merchandising and new mobile services. In addition, RTÉ Libraries and Archives – a national resource and a hugely valuable asset to the public – has been consolidated within RTÉ Digital, and public access to the wealth of video and audio archives will be prioritised through digital means.
www.rte.ie/blogs/digital/
About Samsung Consumer Electronics UK [TW4] (Ireland)
The Samsung Consumer Electronics division manufactures and markets products in the home entertainment and home appliances sectors.
Samsung holds the the clear No1 spot in the Total TV market with a share of 29.4% in April 2012 according to independent GFK data. This is 14% higher than the nearest competitor.
Samsung are also the clear leader in several TV categories including LED with 36.1% share, LCD with 28.7% share, 3D with 46.7% and Smart TV with 37.7% share in value according to independent GFK data in April 2012.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organisations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognised for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.