Admit it, subscription fatigue is real. Between Netflix hiking prices again and Disney Plus cracking down on sharing, the idea of “free TV” has never looked sexier.
If you own a Samsung Smart TV, you’re probably already familiar with Samsung TV Plus. It’s the preinstalled app that starts playing content the second you accidentally hover over it. And it’s slowly becoming a legitimate contender in the streaming wars.
Celebrating its first anniversary in Southeast Asia today, December 17, Samsung announced it is bolstering the service with 13 new channels. The update, scheduled to roll out in early 2026, brings a heavy dose of reality TV nostalgia and niche sports content.
The headline addition here is a partnership with A+E Global Media. If that name sounds corporate and vague, its content definitely isn’t. We are talking about the shows that defined cable TV in the 2010s. And Samsung is adding 10 dedicated channels from the A+E library for Singapore and the Philippines. That means 24/7 distinct feeds for:
- Ice Road Truckers. High anxiety on frozen lakes.
- Duck Dynasty. The Robertson family antics.
- Dog The Bounty Hunter. Mullets and justice.
- Modern Marvels. For the engineering nerds among us.
- Ax Men, Little Women: LA, and Ghost (for the paranormal enthusiasts).
It’s easy to be cynical about “older” content, but this is exactly what makes free ad-supported streaming TV services thrive: lean-back content you can put on while doing laundry or doom-scrolling on your phone.
On the flip side, Samsung will introduce three channels from wedotv, set to launch in Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand.
- wedotv sports. This isn’t the NBA, but it covers the Asian Tour golf and SailGP.
- wedotv movies. A mix of rom-coms and Hollywood flicks, crucially offering local language subtitles.
- Time2rlx. Essentially a screensaver channel with environmental scenes and soothing audio.
You might be wondering why Samsung is pushing this so hard. The numbers tell the story.
According to the technology giant’s data, it has seen a 70% year-on-year rise in viewership in Southeast Asia. It has gone from offering 20 channels a year ago to over 230 channels across the region today. That is a big jump.
This tracks with global trends we’ve been seeing. While paid subscription growth slows down, ad-supported TV is exploding because the barrier to entry is zero. You don’t need a credit card; you just need the TV connected to Wi-Fi.
For Filipino viewers, this update builds on the localization efforts Samsung made earlier this year. Remember, the South Korean company already added Premier Sports, Tap Sports, and UFC TV to the local lineup. Being able to watch UFC fight nights or the Ryder Cup without a paywall is a significant perk that separates Samsung’s offering from generic YouTube playlists.
The bottom line: If you have a Samsung TV (from 2017 models onwards), you don’t need to do anything. These channels will likely appear in your Electronic Program Guide automatically when the update hits in early 2026.
It might not replace your HBO subscription for prestige drama, but for free, mindless entertainment? It’s hard to beat the price tag.
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