Vevo partners with Samsung TV Plus to launch new music channel in Australia

Global music video network Vevo has entered a partnership with Samsung TV Plus to launch its first linear TV channel in Australia.

Titled Vevo Pop, the 24/7 video channel will feature music programming from international pop acts such as The Weeknd and Billie Eilish, as well as spotlighting local artists like Tame Impala, Sia and more.

The ad-supported channel will be made available to all Samsung TV Plus owners from this week and requires no subscription or payment to access.

The local launch of Vevo Pop arrives off the back of a string of successful partnerships with Samsung in the US, Europe and the UK, and looks to significantly boost Vevo’s connected television (CTV) presence within the region.

Vevo’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Steven Sos, told The Music Network that the channel would expand the network’s local reach beyond its on-demand services, benefiting viewers and advertisers alike.

“The addition of STV+ is reflective of our ubiquitous distribution strategy and ensures we continue to meet consumers when and where they want to consume premium music videos,” Sos said.

“Increasingly, that is back on the biggest screen in the house, the television, and more specifically connected television. As a major player in that space, it made sense to expand our existing relationship with Samsung into Australia as an owned and operated market for the business.

“From a broader industry perspective, it is also great to be creating a further environment with which to get music-based content back onto television screens given trends to the contrary over the past decade or two.”

Samsung Ads’ general manager, Alex Spurzem, echoed Sos, saying that the company was thrilled to once again partner with Vevo to bring premium music videos to the growing lineup of 60+ TV channels on Samsung TV Plus in Australia.

“We know that our consumers love watching music videos alongside our other programming of news, lifestyle and sport,” Spurzem said.

“Via the Vevo Pop channel, they will now have access 24/7 to the biggest music videos from the biggest pop artists on the largest screen in the house.”

Vevo’s music video network currently reaches 40% of the Australian population on a monthly basis, with its CTV viewership growing 26% year-on-year to attract nearly six million viewers, the company said.

Last year, the network announced a deal alongside telco giant Telstra to bring its vast music video catalogue to Telstra TV. Other services to utilse its video programming include YouTube, Amazon Echo TV, Apple TV, Sky and Pluto.