Whether it’s watching public broadcast services such as BBC and Channel 4, using platforms such as Freeview and Freesat, as well as ad-supported streaming channels in the likes of Pluto TV; free-to-view TV has been a staple of home viewing for decades.
And more options are coming, offering easy access to shows and films. What’s changed is that TV brands are getting in on the action.
TV Plus is Samsung’s contender in the free-to-view market, and comes with thousands of movies and TV programmes available to stream to your home for free.
This explainer will dig into the service from which countries it’s available in and what you can watch on this live on-demand service.
What is TV Plus on a Samsung TV?
Samsung TVs don’t support Freely by choice. Freely is the catch-up and on-demand platform from the people behind Freeview Play, and it’s supported Panasonic, Hisense, Sharp, TCL and other TV brands in the UK.
Rather than follow that path, Samsung paved the way for its own service in 2015 and created TV Plus.
TV Plus is a FAST (free ad-supported TV) streaming and video platform integrated into the company’s Tizen smart TV platform, that presents sports, news, movies and TV channels.
It’s all streamed, which means there are no downloads. There’s also no need for a subscription and it doesn’t require an external device, like a video streamer, for access. Just turn on your Samsung TV, click the TV Plus icon and away you go.
In terms of availability, the latest information we have is that’s present in 24 countries, and can be found on a variety of Samsung products (even including refrigerators).
According to Samsung’s own research (from 2023), it’s rated third among OTT (over-the-top) services on its own TVs.
What devices is TV Plus available on?
Samsung TV Plus is mainly available on the Korean brand’s devices. That includes TVs manufactured since 2015, (it’s pre-installed on its smart TVs since 2016): smart monitors, mobile and, interestingly, Family Hub refrigerators.
You won’t find it on platforms such as iOS. You can watch on the go as it is available on Android but strictly for selected Galaxy devices that support Android 8.0 (O OS) or higher. Those with smartphones from other Android manufacturers will see a message indicating the app doesn’t work.
Will it appear on other TV platforms? There have been rumours that Samsung is interested in placing the app elsewhere, but as of March 2025, there’s been no further news on that.
Which countries can I watch Samsung TV Plus in?
Current info pegs TV Plus’ availability in 24 countries. Content differs from region to region, with specific programming available in one market but not in another.
The full list of countries where Samsung TV Plus is available is: UK, United States, Spain, Korea, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Luxembourg, Norway, India and New Zealand.
Access to the mobile app differs as it’s available in fewer countries. These include:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Austria
- Switzerland
What are the Samsung TV Plus channels and what can I watch?
There are around 200+ live channels on the service and what you can watch on Samsung TV Plus depends on where you live. For instance, in the UK there is:
- CNN
- Bloomberg
- Hot Ones
- The Guardian
- Poldark
- Reuters
- Baywatch
- Bosch
- Pluto TV Drama
- Comedy Hub
- American Idol
- America’s Got Talent
- Homes Under the Hammer
- Come Dine with Me
- Deal or No Deal (US)
- The Jamie Oliver Channel
- MMA TV
- FIFA+
- Tennis Channel
- Edge Sport
- Homicide Hunter
- Rakuten TV documentaries
- PBS America
- 5 Building Britain
- NBC News
America’s Got Talent is exclusive to TV Plus in the UK, while according to the Samsung website, Better Call Saul is available too. The US has Top Gear US as an exclusive, while the latest production of Das Boot is available on Samsung 8K TVs in Germany (in actual 8K).
German Samsung TV owners also get an exclusive free version of the sports service DAZN that includes live sports.
From October 2023 onwards, UK viewers have access to DAZN Women’s Football, DAZN Ringside, and PGA Tour.
Samsung has also partnered with BBC Studios to bring for new tailored channels for the service in UKTV Play Laughs, UKTV Play Uncovered, UKTV Play Full Throttle and UKTV Play Heroes.
Samsung teams up with partners in each region to provide content. Viewers in Australia and New Zealand able to see shows from the 80s, 90s and 00s under umbrella channel Throwback TV; while those in India get content from the likes of Republic TV, Aaj Tak, Mastiii, Q TV, and Pitaara.
FAQs
No, an account isn’t necessary to view TV Plus but it is useful in the sense that having one allows you to set favourite channels, watch lists and create reminders, which are remembered across devices.
It is free to watch as long as you have a compatible Samsung device that can play the service.
