[ViewFinity S9 Story] RABBIT WALKS Pushes Boundaries of Picture Quality Demo Content Creation
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics announced a new update for Samsung TV Plus,1 its widely-used free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service. The latest version of Samsung TV Plus introduces user interface (UI) enhancements and new features, aimed at streamlining content discovery and elevating the user experience (UX). This update has been applied to cover 2,500 channels+ across all 24 countries where Samsung TV Plus is available.
▲ The latest Samsung TV Plus update features new features and a user interface (UI) overhaul to allow for better content discovery
New UI Dedicated to Expanding Content Discovery
The new Samsung TV Plus update includes a redesigned home screen to provide an overview of content available for viewing, in addition to popular titles and recently watched content.
The updated UI also features newly added categories on the left side of the home screen to include sections such as Live TV, Movies/TV Shows, Music, Kids and Settings, and more. Each category offers a broad range of content that can be easily accessed at any time.
Additionally, region-specific tabs have been added based on each region’s content catalogue and user preference to meet the needs of different markets:
Music tab for the U.S., Australia, New Zealand Kids tab for the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Mexico, India News tab for India with multilingual support
▲ A Kids tab has been added to the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Mexico and India markets
Streamlined Channel Navigation
The updated interface features larger UI elements to improve the browsing experience, allowing users to easily navigate through an ever-expanding library of TV channels. Moreover, users can log into their Samsung accounts to easily access their favorite channels in one place at the top of the channel guide.
▲ Channel navigation becomes more intuitive with the new Samsung TV Plus update
Enhanced VOD Experience
The latest update also expands the Video on Demand (VOD) offerings and features of Samsung TV Plus. Now, users can access VOD from the channel guide, enabling instant playback of select programs without having to wait for a specific episode to come on the channel.2
The new “More Like This” feature offers content suggestion based on users’ viewing history, providing tailored content discovery that aligns with their preferences.
▲ The latest Samsung TV Plus update includes a variety of VOD content
“Over the past year, we have witnessed a 60% increase in global viewing time on Samsung TV Plus — a testament to the platform’s expansive content library and user-friendly design,” said Yonghoon Choi, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to evolve and enhance our services to provide a more intuitive and enjoyable viewing experience for our users.”
For more information on Samsung TV Plus, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) and video-on-demand service which offers over 2,500 channels globally as well as thousands of shows and movies on-demand spanning news, sports, entertainment, auto, design and more. One of the first FAST platforms from a device manufacturer, Samsung TV Plus is directly integrated into all 2016-2023 Samsung TVs, available on Samsung Galaxy mobile devices and Samsung Family Hub refrigerators on selected regions.
1 The latest update, Samsung TV Plus version 5.2, will be available on all Samsung Smart TVs released in 2019 or later.
2 If content is available for both linear channel programs and VOD.
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By Samsung Newsroom
For 14 consecutive years, Samsung Electronics has led the commercial display market with its innovations.1 This year, the company has set the standard for displays once again with the release of The Wall for Virtual Production (IVC Model) — an ultra-large MICRO LED-based display customized for virtual content production. Lauded for its unmatched color capabilities, pristine high definition, and black seal technology for ultra black levels, The Wall for Virtual Production was unveiled at Infocomm 2023, the largest audiovisual tradeshow in North America, and the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2023, a premier exhibition for broadcasting and media in Europe.
Samsung Newsroom sat down with Chan Hyoung Park, Vice President of Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics, Mark Taylor, European Head of LED at Samsung Electronics, and developers Sanghoon Oh and Hyun Ji to learn more about the inspiration for the display and the future of film production.
Increased Content Immersion and Reduced Production Costs
Virtual production is a method of filmmaking that combines computer-generated imagery with live-action footage to create next-level content. The use of both physical and digital elements gives filmmakers the ability to visualize imaginative scenes in new ways.
▲ Virtual production can reduce production costs and post-production editing time as filmmakers can view results in real time by utilizing a ultra-large, high-definition LED display.
As virtual production enables filmmakers to overcome the limitations of physical sets or environments, an increasing number of ultra-large, high-definition LED displays are being incorporated into production — saving time and cutting costs during post-production editing. Unlike chroma key green screens, which require image compositing and color correction during post-production, LED screens for virtual production can seamlessly display a breathtaking background behind moving actors.
LED walls, such as The Wall for Virtual Production, offer advantages against both these methods. With these screens, producers are able to efficiently make edits to video in real time, whilst actors experience better immersion because of the lifelike, ultra-high definition images.
▲ Mark Taylor underscores how virtual production screens increase the level of immersion for actors during filming.
Mark Taylor, European Head of LED, explained how these features make virtual production an attractive form of film production. “If producers were to add a lot of effects post-production, it takes a long time and the cost can be lot higher. But a lot of it’s actually being done in-camera. With LED walls, actors can crucially interact with the video behind them, making the experience much more immersive,” he said. “In addition, because LED is its own self-emitting light, you can put that in much brighter environments than projections, and you don’t have to use camera settings and lighting to compensate for that, resulting in more flexibility.
Adoption Throughout the Film and TV Industry
Virtual production techniques are becoming increasingly popular because of their specific advantages. Large-scale blockbuster films that require heavy visual effects began shifting to virtual production during the pandemic, and many studios have continued to use it since. Likewise, various OTT platforms have followed this trend to further market growth.
To usher in the era of virtual production, CJ ENM — a leading entertainment company in South Korea — teamed up with Samsung to install The Wall Virtual Production Stage in Paju, South Korea last May. Measuring over 1,000 inches, the custom oval display set a remarkable precedent for the next era of film and TV production and paved the way for future virtual production technology.
▲ CJ ENM Virtual Production Stage, where The Wall Virtual Production Stage is installed.
As adoption continues throughout the industry, market size is forecast to reach a value of approximately $700 (by when?) million and annual growth is predicted to be around 18% through 2030. With applications expanding to advertising and live commerce, virtual production will set a new standard for production across various sectors.
▲ The Virtual Production market is expected to grow 18% YoY globally through 2030
Optimization of Virtual Production Studios
The Wall for Virtual Production is equipped with the latest visual technologies such as newly developed LED elements and ultra-anti-reflective film so the darkest colors show up clearly on screen even under the brightest production lights. Each screen module is built to a 4:9 ratio, slimmer than the conventional 16:9, to help reduce the angle between cabinets and thus prevent video distortion from light reflections.
“In the early stages of developing The Wall for Virtual Production, we wanted to ensure the product was suitable for diverse studio environments,” said Samsung developer Hyun Ji. “We accomplished this by creating a display that can be installed in numerous orientations such as being hung or stacked with other screens. This flexibility allows productions to adapt the screen to their sets. In addition, we’ve prevented screen distortions by reducing the product’s length and eliminating light reflection by applying ultra-anti-reflective film for more natural videos.”
▲ The Wall for Virtual Production modules are compatible with both hanging and stacking structures to fit production needs
The modular nature of The Wall for Virtual Production allows it to be constructed in a variety of forms ideal for any environment — from a perfectly flat screen to up to 6,000R curvature. Additionally, the width can be extended by any length while the height can range from 9m to 13.5m (up to 10 modules hung or 15 modules stacked). To keep the weight evenly distributed, Samsung developed a uniquely patented structure to ensure the display is stable.
“With the leveler-style supporting structure applied, the weight of the modules is evenly distributed among the cabinets,” explained Ji.
To minimize distortion when cameras are connected, The Wall boasts the highest industry refresh rate of up to 12,288Hz for unparalleled image quality. Samsung developer Sanghoon Oh explained how this refresh rate is ideal for studio production. “By achieving this impressively high refresh rate, we’ve minimized screen distortions that occur when subjects overlap or when horizontal lines form due to camera movement,” he said.
▲ Hyun Ji (left) and Sanghoon Oh who worked on the development of The Wall for Virtual Production
Aside from the impressive scale of the display, Samsung applied innovative software solutions to The Wall for Virtual Production to ensure visuals are replicated seamlessly on screen. The company equipped the display with Generator Locking (Genlock) to synchronize the screen and camera’s video signals as well as Phase Offset to adjust any delays between the camera and screen.
Oh explained how Samsung’s industry and technological expertise has helped the company perfect its products. “Samsung can respond to various market demands efficiently because the company designs and produces its own hardware — including LED modules, cabinets and S-Box (a dedicated video player) — as well as its own software solutions — such as LED Signage Manager (LSM) for LED operation control and Virtual Production Manager (VPM) for virtual production,” he said.
The Next Era of Content Production
Unveiled earlier this year, The Wall for Virtual Production has already garnered attention from industry professionals and creatives alike. “Although we’ve just begun, we’ll work to strengthen the product’s competitive market edge and lead the industry,” said Oh.
Equipped with industry-leading technologies, The Wall for Virtual Production will enhance not only the production process but the production environment as well.
“The Wall for Virtual Production maximizes digital effects while also simplifying and speeding up the video production process,” said Chan Hyoung Park, Vice President of Visual Display (VD) Business. “The display has the potential to change the film and TV landscape by reducing costs and creating a more efficient industry.”
▲ Chan Hyoung Park explains how The Wall for Virtual Production will redefine industry standards for production.
Combining extraordinary technological features with imaginative digital and visual effects, The Wall for Virtual Production is poised to lead a new era of content production.
1 Samsung has been the No.1 selling digital signage brand for 14 consecutive years by Omdia (IHS) 23 Q2 Smart Signage History+Forecast report. (Note: Consumer TVs, along with Commercial Lite and Hospitality TVs used for signage, are excluded.)
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By Samsung Newsroom
Gone are the days of sitting nose-to-television in order to see every detail and every moment of the action. Now, larger TV screens are not popular for just avid cinephiles, but they are a popular choice and more accessible for more consumers than ever before.
As the size of the average screens at home has evolved, so has the technology within them. This provides users with greater detail, color and motion so content looks even more brilliant in this larger format.
Ushering in the Era of Premium Viewing With Neo QLED 4K
At the forefront of premium screens lie Samsung Neo QLEDs — with state-of-the-art Mini LED and Quantum dot technology that offers superb contrast and vivid, accurate color reproduction. The exceptional picture quality of the Neo QLEDs is even more evident when taken to a larger screen.
The QN100B 98” — Samsung’s Neo QLED 4K — offers consumers the pinnacle of ultra-fine light control thanks to Quantum Matrix Technology powered by a massive grid of Quantum Mini LEDs. This allows viewers to see every single detail on the screen, even in the darkest of scenes, with deeper color and contrast. Subtle nuances in light and color are analyzed and shifted scene by scene so that each and every frame is of the highest quality.
Beyond its unrivaled performance as a television for consumers’ favorite movies, shows and games, this screen has been praised by many industry experts and users as well. IMAX recently commended the massive 98” Neo QLED 4K for its performance in their critical reference environment producing a highly accurate precise image.
“After calibrating and reviewing this new model TV, I can tell you that we were excited to see how closely the image quality matches our reference mastering monitor that we use in post-production finishing work,” said Bruce Markoe, the SVP and Head of Post Production at IMAX Corporation. “We see value in using very large, high-quality displays in mastering content for IMAX Enhanced masters. Having a large sized screen with proper image quality creates the best way to apply and utilize our DMR technology during the mastering process.”
▲ Bruce Markoe, the SVP and Head of Post Production at IMAX Corporation
A reference monitor is a specialized display device used for color grading during post-production. Reference monitors must produce a highly accurate image so teams can create the most precise, high-quality output possible.
In order to provide an outstanding cinematic experience, IMAX films are produced with cameras up to 16K resolution, which means the mastering monitor used must be extremely accurate in order to accurately display the creators’ intent.
Elevate the Premium Viewing Experience With Neo QLED 8K
Stepping above and beyond the already high-performing Neo QLED 4K, consumers find Samsung Neo QLED 8K. These screens offer the dazzling picture quality users have come to expect from Samsung in even more brilliant 8K resolution. Powered by Neo Quantum Processor 8K, the state-of-the-art upscaling neural networks ensure that all content is displayed with utmost precision and immaculate picture quality.
As streaming platforms begin to offer content optimized for a larger 1.9:1 screen ratio, perfect for an immersive cinematic experience, having an 8K TV with premium picture quality is a sure-fire way to future-proof a home entertainment set up.
Premium TV Sales Are on the Rise With Neo QLED 4K and 8K
In fact, more content, better features and more things to do on your TV mean the trend of purchasing larger and larger TV screens is not simply expected to continue to even to grow. According to Omdia, the over-80-inch TV market is expected to grow from 2.8 million units in 2022 to 3.5 million units in 2023 — over 24%.
Samsung’s premium TV lineup has also helped solidify its leadership in the TV industry for an impressive 17 years. In 2022, Samsung sold a staggering 9.65 million units of QLED and Neo QLED TVs, bringing the cumulative sales to 35 million units since its QLED product launch in 2017.
Samsung also dominated the ultra-large TV segment in 2022, reporting 36.1% and 42.9% in terms of market share for TVs over 75-inches and 80-inches respectively.
“Neo QLED offers one of the most premium viewing experience for large screens over 75-inches, and we believe they are the future of home entertainment,” said Seokwoo Yong, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As more content and features become available to consumers, Neo QLED 4K and 8K TVs will help consumers get the most out of these new contents while providing breathtaking visuals packed with lifelike details.”
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By Samsung Newsroom
In order to continue bringing the best and most vivid display to its users, Samsung has been expanding its 8K ecosystem, widening the scope of high-definition content experiences. With technology optimized to offer the brightest and sharpest 8K definition, users can enjoy a wide range of content including movies, NFT artworks and more. To learn more about Samsung’s 8K ecosystem, check out the card news below.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung TV Plus is set to unveil a host of new programs under a new brand logo. This raft of premium content will grant users all around the world access to diverse, high-quality TV shows. Samsung is also expanding compatibility with this TV service to even more of its devices.
Opening Up a New Era of Streaming
Samsung launched Samsung TV Plus as a free streaming TV and video service in 2015, and as of August 2022, users from 24 countries can easily access connected TV and enjoy a wide range of content including news, sports, entertainment and more.
Since April 2021, the service has been available on Samsung mobile devices and Smart monitors, as well as on the company’s TV lineup. Now, select Family Hub refrigerators can also be connected to Samsung TV Plus1 in the U.S. and Korea.
According to internal research, Samsung TV Plus ranks third among the over-the-top (OTT) apps used by owners of Samsung Smart TVs. In the last 12 months, Samsung TV Plus has seen a nearly twofold growth in consumer viewing, including nearly 3 billion hours streamed,2 by highly engaged users worldwide.
Amidst this global growth, Samsung is opening up a new era for its free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) and video-on-demand service, with Samsung TV Plus now reaching 24 countries and 465 million devices globally across the company’s TV, smart monitors, mobile and Family Hub refrigerator lineups.
Enhancing Visibility for Viewing Versatility
Samsung TV Plus’ new logo reflects the platform’s cross-device capabilities, with a blue and orange logo design on a black background providing improved visibility that signals the versatility of the platform.
Samsung TV Plus’ redesigned logo.
In line with the coloration of its logo’s redesign, Samsung TV Plus’ UI will also be available in a Dark Theme with enhanced visibility. Users can more easily browse what’s on now, recommended programs and channel lists.
The interface of Samsung TV Plus’ Homepage, featuring the Dark Theme UI.
Bringing Users More of the Content They Love
Along with these redesigns, Samsung TV Plus will unveil a host of new programming partnerships. Samsung brings viewers FAST-first content premieres, including an exclusive 2-minute sneak peek release of Prime Video’s highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series, an exclusive, uncut version of Demi Lovato’s Vevo Official Live Performance. In the U.S., Top Gear, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NCIS and other popular content will be made available.
Samsung Plus TV will offer Top Gear in the U.S.
In the U.K., Samsung TV Plus is exclusively offering viewers the 2022 season of America’s Got Talent, as well as all previous seasons from 2019 to the present. This will eventually include the season finale, which is set to be aired in September. Furthermore, the first native 8K produced TV series, Das Boot, has launched exclusively in 8K on Samsung TV Plus in Germany. While some shows are filmed in 4K and can be upscaled to 8K later, Das Boot is the first show to be filmed entirely in 8K from the start of production. It was produced by Bavaria Fiction for Sky in partnership with Samsung Electronics Germany and has been available to watch on Samsung Neo QLED 8Ks via Samsung TV Plus from 2020 onwards.
The new season of America’s Got Talent is coming to the U.K. exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, while viewers in Germany can look forward to Das Boot, the first native 8K TV show.
For Samsung TV Plus users in Australia and New Zealand, the first exclusive, owned and operated (O&O) channels have been launched. These offer fan-favorite shows from the eighties, nineties and noughties — collected under the umbrella channel Throwback TV — as well as competitions and reality shows from around the globe under its Entertainment Hub channel. In India, Samsung TV Plus viewers can enjoy even more content from some of the top national and regional channel partners as Samsung continues to strengthen its relationship with channel partners including Discovery, Republic TV, Aaj Tak, Mastiii, Q TV, Pitaara and Balle.
Growing relationships with channel partners mean viewers can enjoy the best in local and regional content, both retro and current.
As Samsung TV Plus expands its global scope, Samsung will continue to invest in premium content, exclusive premieres and key partnerships for its users. Not only does the platform see Samsung providing a diverse offering of channels and shows across a wide variety of countries and languages, but it also sees the company continuing to strengthen its global partnerships in order to provide its viewers with the very best content, free of charge.
1 Samsung TV Plus compatible devices as of August 2022 include:
– TV: Smart TVs released after 2016 (availability may vary by country)
– Mobile: Devices supporting Android 8.0 OS and above
– Smart Monitor: M8, M7 and M5 Smart Monitors
– Family Hub: Products of Model 2.0 or above released after 2017
2 From July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022
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