Samsung has been busy expanding the utility of its living room hardware, focusing on both international content and interactive family entertainment. The company is positioning its Smart TVs not just as displays, but as central hubs for free streaming and console-free gaming.
New Korean Cinema and Microdramas on Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is expanding its K-Content library with a new weekly programming block and short-form digital series. Starting October 28, the service is launching 'K-Wave Wednesdays' on the Movie Hub channel. This initiative will feature 10 Korean films scheduled weekly through the end of the year.
The lineup includes exclusive FAST/AVOD titles such as 'Salmokji: Whispering Water' and 'The King’s Warden'. Beyond feature films, Samsung is diversifying its format offerings:
- Iron Squad Season 3: A Korean military reality competition streaming on the All Action channel starting November 4.
- Lezhin Snack Microdramas: More than a dozen short-form series available on-demand in the U.S. starting in December.
Samsung TV Plus remains a subscription-free service for owners of Samsung Smart TVs, Galaxy devices, and Smart Monitors. According to Samsung, the platform now reaches more than 100 million monthly active users and provides over 5,000 ad-supported linear channels across 30 countries.
Smartphone-Powered Gaming for the Living Room
On a different front, Samsung is addressing family engagement through its Gaming Hub. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos for Samsung found that 79% of parents wish they spent more quality time with their children, while 84% admit to multitasking on devices during family time. To counter this, the company is promoting Amazon Luna’s GameNight as a way to turn personal devices into shared tools.
The detail that matters for families is the controller-free setup. The Gaming Hub allows smartphones to function as game controllers, removing the need for dedicated hardware or consoles. 90% in North America and over 200% globally in the past year.
Amazon Prime members can access GameNight titles and the Luna Standard library at no additional cost.
By combining niche international content with low-barrier gaming, Samsung is attempting to keep the television at the center of the household. Whether these software additions can successfully bridge the gap between passive viewing and active family participation will likely depend on the continued growth of its ad-supported and cloud-based ecosystems.