Streaming service Hayu to be made available on Australian Samsung Smart TVs

Samsung and NBCUniversal International have teamed up to announce that Hayu, NBCUniversal’s reality-TV streaming service, is now available through Samsung Smart TVs.

Hendrik McDermott, managing director of Hayu, said “2021 has already seen Hayu – the all reality streaming service from NBCUniversal International – expand its footprint into 11 new markets across Europe.

“Our partnership with Samsung extends our distribution and deepens our reach within Hayu territories by making the service even more accessible. Through Samsung’s industry-leading range of smart TVs, reality fans can enjoy a first-class lean-back viewing experience of the best reality TV”.

The 11 new markets Hayu launched in during February 2021 were France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Richard Jakeman, senior director business development, Samsung Electronics, said “In 2020 we have experienced a rise in streaming consumption in Samsung TVs. For the first time surpassing linear viewership in Europe as well as other global markets. And we are extremely excited of being part of Hayu’s journey in their OTT global expansion. 

“By connecting Hayu’s unique global appeal to Samsung’s best in class TVs and UX we are further strengthening Samsung’s content and services offer to millions of consumers. Empowering consumers to watch and enjoy their favourite content with best picture quality and with no cords attached.”

After launching in Australia in 2016, Hayu has worked to diversify its content.

On the third anniversary of its Australian launch, Hendrik McDermott told Mediaweek “NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading unscripted production companies and they produce about 2,000 hours of unscripted a year. A lot of those franchises are extremely well known. Products that come out of our flagship brands in the US – Bravo, Oxygen and the E! Network – are franchises like The Real Housewives, Top Chef, Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

“At launch perhaps as much as 90% of the content was from the NBCUniversal family. Since launch though we have diversified the content proposition.”