Getting Smart about what’s on the box

Getting Smart about what’s on the box

Auckland, November 19, 2014 – We’re still watching TV. In fact Kiwis, on average, watch 175 minutes of TV per day. But the way we’re watching it is changing. We’re still watching a fair chunk of ‘linear’ telly i.e. when you sit down at an appointed time and catch up with the news at 6 or Shortland Street, but we’re also block-booking episodes of House of Cards or Downton Abbey, and streaming new releases of Orange is the New Black or the latest hit movie as seen in your local Video Ezy.

“It’s not just the content providers driving this change in consumption, it’s companies like us,” says Mike Cornwell, Marketing Director at Samsung New Zealand. “While we’re justifiably proud of our curved UHD screens, we’ve also been working on ways to make accessing great content really, really easy for our consumers.

“If you look at the choice available on your Samsung Smart TV compared to any of our competitors, including Apple TV, we are the clear leaders in this space in New Zealand. We’re the only company that has actively invested in and sourced local content in great partnerships with the likes of TVNZ, TV3 and now Lightbox.”

Over the last year Samsung has worked exclusively with TVNZ, TV3, Video Ezy, Coliseum (Barclays English Premier League) and others to develop apps for their range of Smart TVs. The next cab off the rank is Lightbox. In addition, savvy shoppers purchasing a new Samsung Smart TV will be able to get a bonus three month Lightbox subscription when buying a TV from November through to Jan 31, 2015.

The team from Lightbox is delighted to get on board. “We’re able to share our fantastic TV series on the best TVs in the market – so not only do we make it easier for people to watch the best shows around, we also show it in the best possible quality,” says Kym Niblock, CEO of Lightbox. “It’s a match made in heaven, resulting in a wonderful viewing experience and an easy way to get Lightbox shows on the big screen for the whole family to enjoy.”

Mike Cornwell adds, “The Samsung Smart TV is a great example of how the way we behave is converging with technology. While we we’re sitting down to catch up with how Chelsea is faring against Man U, at the same time we’re following our Facebook feed, checking out what’s happening to our auction on Trade Me or even checking our email from work. But now, rather than using multiple devices, a viewer can actually access all of this content, all at once on their Samsung Smart TV. Easy.”

Why a Smart TV and how to use it

• A Smart TV simply means that you have built-in internet capability direct to your TV and can then access content through apps

• Smart TVs offer one-click convenience – you’re not stuck having to access programming guides, you simply change with the click of a mouse

• The neat-freaks among us will appreciate less clutter and reliance on multiple devices – you can now watch all the great content you want on your smart TV.

Of course, Samsung wouldn’t be Samsung if there wasn’t a connection to the TV through their range of smartphones. A user can view their 4K images captured on their phone, watch content on the go or actually change channels with their GALAXY Note 4 or GS5 – meaning that there’s always a spare remote around. Like everyone, Samsung knows that when the remote goes missing the frustration levels skyrocket.

“We’re all about making life and play easier and more rewarding all around. So we’ve ensured that the smarts in our phones extend to the TV and a whole host of other Samsung products and appliances. Just as there is convergence in the way that we’re behaving and interacting with technology, there is convergence in the way we’re connecting with great content and products,” says Cornwell.

Get on board with a Samsung Smart TV and consume great content to your heart’s content.

More information on what’s on offer

Lightbox

The new app enables users to access the full line-up of Lightbox shows on Samsung Smart TVs and selected Samsung Smart AV devices. Lightbox CEO Kym Niblock says the new Lightbox app will be a game-changer for people with Samsung Smart TVs, New Zealand’s best-selling Smart TV.

“Now it’s even easier for Kiwis to kick back, relax and enjoy Lightbox’s incredible line-up of TV shows on the big screen, all from the comfort of the couch,” Niblock says.

The Lightbox app is available on all Samsung Smart TVs made from 2012 onwards. Users need to sign up for Lightbox on their desktop or laptop before they log in to the app on their Samsung Smart TV’s Smart Hub. Lightbox will also be coming to a selection of Samsung tablets before the end of November.

To celebrate the partnership, all those who purchase a Samsung Smart TV before 31 January 2015 will get a bonus 90-day subscription to Lightbox.For a free 30-day trial of Lightbox register at www.lightbox.co.nz

New Lightbox shows include: Transparent, Top of The Lake, Alpha House, Masters of Sex and Justified.

TVNZ OnDemand

Jason Foden, General Manager TVNZ OnDemand says, “New Zealand viewers love to be given greater viewing choice and more options – and we love to give it to them. When it comes to watching TV’s biggest shows, we know the big screen experience appeals to the broadest range of Kiwi viewers. Our partnership with Samsung has played a part in the huge success of TVNZ OnDemand. In the past year TVNZ OnDemand streams on Samsung TV have grown a massive 140 percent and a lot of that’s down to the pulling power of our shows together with Samsung’s product.”

Coming up:

• All new TVNZ OnDemand platform to launch early in the New Year

• Improved viewing experience – it’ll be easier to find and enjoy the hottest shows

• Pick up and play – pause and resume viewing across any device

• Personalisation – create favourites and watchlists

• Exclusive online premieres, webisodes, and extra content

English Premier League (Coliseum)

The Premier League is finished warming up for the season and is ready to enter into the hectic Christmas schedule. In the month of December they play seven full rounds, compared to the usual three or four. This is the time when title challenges are cemented and pretenders are found out. We also start back after the international break with the always tasty Man United trip to Arsenal.

Just before Christmas we see not only the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland; one of the top four or five derby games of the Premier League. We also see the first Kiwi derby for a number of years as All White's captain Winston Reid's West Ham hosts Leicester City. Leicester City includes striker Chris Wood in their team. After being beaten by the Phoenix on their New Zealand pre-season trip, West Ham have been one of the season's unlikely success stories and we know Miles Davis has his fingers crossed that Winston will get to play European football next season without having to change clubs.

Games of note:

Arsenal – Man United (Nov 22)

Chelsea - Tottenham (Dec 2)

Man United – Liverpool (Dec 13)

Liverpool – Arsenal (Dec 20)

Newcastle – Sunderland The Tyne-Wear Derby (Dec 20)

West Ham – Leicester City (Dec 20)

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

ENDS