The pre-installed FAST service on 150M+ Samsung smart TVs worldwide — linear channel specs, VOD requirements, and the channel-operator delivery path.
Samsung TV Plus is the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service pre-installed on every Samsung smart TV sold since 2016 — an installed base of more than 150 million devices across 24+ countries. Unlike Pluto TV or Tubi, Samsung TV Plus is not a standalone app users choose to install: it ships on the device, is surfaced prominently in the Samsung Smart Hub, and benefits from default-tier placement that drives enormous passive reach. The platform combines a linear FAST channel grid with a limited VOD catalog, and its content partnerships are brokered almost exclusively through the Samsung Ads / Samsung TV Plus content team — this is not an open-submission platform. Molten Cloud, the rights management and royalties platform for film and television, automates Samsung TV Plus avails generation, manages FAST-specific ad-revenue royalties, and ensures that content routed via channel operators is backed by verified territorial rights data.
Samsung TV Plus serves content in two modes, with linear FAST as the dominant surface and VOD as a smaller, more curated catalog:
Because linear FAST is the dominant surface, most distributors approach Samsung TV Plus as a linear play — partnering with a channel operator to package content into a themed 24/7 feed, then using Samsung TV Plus as one of several distribution endpoints for that channel.
Samsung TV Plus avails are typically exchanged between the distributor, the channel operator, and the Samsung TV Plus content team. The format combines traditional FAST avails fields with platform-specific metadata for channel placement and ad-supported rights.
| Field | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Exact display title | Must match channel schedule and asset metadata exactly |
| Content Type | Feature, Series, Episode, Channel | Channel used when avails describe a full 24/7 linear feed |
| Territory | ISO country codes — per Samsung's 24+ markets | Each territory is independent; channel lineups differ by market |
| License Window | Start and end dates | Samsung prefers multi-year windows for channel partnerships |
| Exclusivity | Exclusive to Samsung TV Plus, or non-exclusive across FAST | Exclusivity can unlock promotional placement in the Smart Hub |
| Ad-Supported Rights | FAST (linear) and/or AVOD (on-demand) rights confirmation | Must confirm ad-supported rights specifically, separate from SVOD/TVOD |
| Runtime | Exact HH:MM:SS | Required for linear scheduling and VOD catalog display |
| Ad Break Count | Number of SCTE-35 break points in the linear feed | Aligned with channel operator's playout template |
Samsung TV Plus requires confirmed ad-supported rights (FAST and/or AVOD) for every title in a delivered feed. A distributor may hold SVOD or TVOD rights for a title but not ad-supported rights — or may hold ad-supported rights in some territories but not others. Submitting a channel with even one title lacking FAST rights in a specific territory causes the entire channel to be blocked in that market. Molten Cloud tracks FAST, AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD rights as distinct exploitation windows per territory, preventing this common error at avails-generation time.
| Specification | Linear (FAST) | On-Demand (VOD) |
|---|---|---|
| Video Codec | H.264 High Profile | H.264 High Profile |
| Container | MPEG-TS (transport stream) | MP4 |
| Resolution — EU | 1080p50 / 1080p60 | 1920 × 1080 |
| Resolution — US | 1080i / 29.97 fps | 1920 × 1080 |
| Audio | AC-3 — stereo or 5.1 | AC-3 — stereo or 5.1 |
| Ad Markers | SCTE-35 required, embedded in MPEG-TS | Not required — Samsung inserts pre/mid-roll |
| Metadata | XML per Samsung content provider schema | XML per Samsung content provider schema |
| Captions | Embedded per region broadcast standard | SRT or VTT sidecar |
| Delivery | Playout via channel operator feed | File delivery via operator or Samsung portal |
The biggest platform-specific trap is frame rate. Samsung TV Plus enforces regional broadcast standards strictly:
1. Missing or misplaced SCTE-35 markers. Linear feeds delivered to Samsung TV Plus without SCTE-35 markers embedded in the MPEG-TS cannot be monetised — ads cannot be inserted. This is the single most common reason a channel fails onboarding QC.
2. Wrong frame rate for the region. Delivering 29.97 fps content for EU markets, or 1080p50 content for the US linear grid. Samsung enforces regional broadcast standards strictly, and forcibly transcoded content usually shows motion artefacts that trigger further rejection.
3. Metadata schema errors. Samsung's XML content provider schema is less documented than Tier 1 platforms — missing fields, wrong enumerations, or malformed nested elements cause silent ingest failures. Metadata issues typically add 1-2 weeks to onboarding.
4. Trying to deliver direct. Approaching Samsung TV Plus cold, without a channel operator or prior invitation, almost always stalls. The content team prioritises partners already integrated with Samsung's playout infrastructure — distributors who skip the operator step face long delays.
5. Confusing ad-supported rights with SVOD/TVOD. Delivering a channel where one or more titles have SVOD rights but not FAST rights in a specific Samsung territory. A single rights gap blocks the whole channel in that market until the offending title is pulled.
Distributors deliver content to Samsung TV Plus primarily through channel operators such as Amagi, Wurl, or Frequency, who already hold carriage relationships with Samsung. Direct submission is rare — Samsung TV Plus is not an open-submission platform and new partners are typically onboarded by invitation. The workflow involves packaging a themed linear channel or VOD pack, confirming FAST/AVOD rights per territory (Samsung operates in 24+ countries), preparing content to region-specific specs (H.264 High Profile, 1080p50/60 for EU or 1080i/29.97 for US, AC-3 audio, MPEG-TS for linear), embedding SCTE-35 ad markers in the linear feed, and handing playout to the operator who delivers to Samsung's ingestion endpoints. Molten Cloud automates avails generation, FAST/AVOD rights checks per territory, and ad-revenue royalty calculation across all Samsung TV Plus markets.
Samsung TV Plus requires H.264 High Profile video with AC-3 stereo or 5.1 audio. Linear FAST content ships in an MPEG-TS container with SCTE-35 ad markers embedded in the stream; VOD content ships as MP4. Resolution and frame rate are region-specific: EU markets require 1080p50 or 1080p60 aligned with European broadcast standards, while the US market uses 1080i at 29.97 fps aligned with ATSC conventions. LATAM territories typically follow US frame-rate conventions. Metadata is delivered as XML per Samsung's content provider schema. Specs are less publicly documented than Tier 1 platforms and are usually shared under NDA during onboarding through the channel operator.
In practice, yes. Samsung TV Plus routes the vast majority of its content through channel operators — Amagi, Wurl, and Frequency are the three most common — who run 24/7 playout, embed SCTE-35 markers, and deliver the MPEG-TS feed to Samsung's ingestion endpoints. Direct-delivered feeds exist, but are reserved for large studios and broadcasters with their own playout infrastructure and existing Samsung relationships. For an independent distributor, partnering with a channel operator is the realistic path onto the platform: the operator handles technical playout, metadata conformance, and ongoing feed management, while the distributor owns the rights, avails, and commercial relationship with Samsung Ads.
Samsung TV Plus requires SCTE-35 ad markers embedded in the MPEG-TS transport stream for all linear FAST channels. SCTE-35 is the industry-standard signalling protocol for broadcast and FAST ad insertion — markers indicate where ad breaks start and end so Samsung's ad server can insert targeted advertising during linear playback. Channel operators typically insert SCTE-35 markers as part of their playout platform, aligned with the channel's programming template (for example, two breaks per 30-minute episode, or four to five breaks per feature film). Linear content delivered without SCTE-35 markers cannot be monetised and will fail Samsung's onboarding QC. VOD content does not require SCTE-35 — Samsung inserts pre-roll and mid-roll ads automatically from its own ad server.
Molten Cloud manages FAST channel delivery profiles and ad-supported rights per territory — so your Samsung TV Plus channel goes live in every market where you actually hold the rights.
See how FAST channel delivery works in Molten Cloud
