Samsung expanding media efforts to compete with Apple's iTunes

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
Samsung plans to step up its competition with Apple's iTunes by providing content directly to customers who buy its TVs, smartphones and tablets.



Samsung revealed its intentions in a press release issued on Wednesday announcing that the company has hired Devid Eun, who was previously president of AOL Media and Studios, as an executive vice president. At AOL, Eun oversaw the company's efforts to provide more premium content.



Previously, Eun worked at Google where he was involved with projects such as Google Books, YouTube, and Google Maps. He also worked at traditional media companies NBC and Time Warner.



Samsung said that Eun "will play a key role in developing a global media strategy and driving new business opportunities to take advantage of Samsung's growing number of digital televisions and displays, mobile phones, tablets and other connected devices."



"Samsung Electronics has an unparalleled footprint across multiple devices and platforms that provides a unique experience to consumers around the world," Eun said. "The competition for prominence in the living room has already begun, and Samsung Electronics is ideally situated to extend beyond that to connect the entire home and the lives of consumers. I?m looking forward to joining the impressive leadership already in place and to building a new presence in media for Samsung Electronics."



As noted by Kara Swisher of All Things D, Samsung had previously launched smaller content efforts, but the hiring of Eun is an indication that the company plans to broaden its offerings. That move will ramp up competition with Apple, which has been dominant in the online content business, and Google, which is a newer entrant into the market.



Samsung's interest in expanding content availability also comes as Amazon, which has traditionally been a content provider, is competing in the hardware market with its new color touchscreen tablet, the Kindle Fire. And Sony, a manufacturer of smartphone, portable media players and game consoles, also has its own media offerings under the Qriocity brand.







The hiring of Eun also comes as an intense rivalry between Samsung and Apple has prompted Apple to seek other suppliers for components for its electronics. Previously, Apple was said to be the largest customer of Samsung, and was projected to buy $7.8 billion in parts from the company this year alone.



But Apple has accused Samsung of copying the look and feel of Apple's iPhone and iPad with its own smartphone and tablet devices. Samsung has fired back with its own patent infringement lawsuits against Apple, and the two companies are engaged in numerous legal battles around the world.



The rivalry between Samsung and Apple could grow even greater in the future, as Apple is rumored to be working on a full-fledged television to launch in the next year, while Samsung is a major competitor in the HDTV market. In addition, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said last week that he expects his company's Google TV software to be on a "majority" of TVs sold in 2012.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 44
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    They have the devices and even some of the interconnecting SW so it's about time they added content as a bonding agent.
  • Reply 2 of 44
    dluxdlux Posts: 666member
    Let me guess - the application will feature a round icon with a musical note in it and be called "yTunes".



    The Samsung CEO will introduce it by including the complete catalog from 2U and the Peatles.
  • Reply 3 of 44
    davdav Posts: 115member
    Samsung TVs - now with iToons
  • Reply 4 of 44
    SWEET!!!! An executive of

    AOL! That's one cool well thought of company!
  • Reply 5 of 44
    jkichlinejkichline Posts: 1,369member
    Looks like Sammy is trying to continue to be cool like Apple. The trouble is that they are about 10 years late to the party.
  • Reply 6 of 44
    Let them. I like seeing Samesung hemmorage money.
  • Reply 7 of 44
    dluxdlux Posts: 666member
    Quote:

    Samsung said that Eun "will play a key role in developing a global media strategy and driving new business opportunities..."



    It's refreshing to read a press announcement that uses a down-to-earth tone and creative word choices. Not in the above bromide, mind you, but when one comes up it's still refreshing.
  • Reply 8 of 44
    galbigalbi Posts: 968member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MissionGrey View Post


    SWEET!!!! An executive of

    AOL! That's one cool well thought of company!



    You forgot the "Google", "NBC" and "Time Warner".





    AI and its sensational headlines. Makes me laugh.
  • Reply 9 of 44
    It's not Apple, so it bound to fail, Like their share in the smartphone business.
  • Reply 10 of 44
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dlux View Post


    Let me guess - the application will feature a round icon with a musical note in it and be called "yTunes".



    The Samsung CEO will introduce it by including the complete catalog from 2U and the Peatles.



    ROFL
  • Reply 11 of 44
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Blitz1 View Post


    It's not Apple, so it bound to fail, Like their share in the smartphone business.



    Nobody cares about share.
  • Reply 12 of 44
    morkymorky Posts: 200member
    Quote:

    And Sony...has its own media offerings under the Qriocity brand.



    Talk about setting yourself up for failure. That has to be the worst brand name since the Ford Gelding.
  • Reply 13 of 44
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Samsung plans to step up its competition with Apple's iTunes by providing content directly to customers who buy its TVs, smartphones and tablets.



    Samsung revealed its intentions in a press release issued on Wednesday announcing that the company has hired Devid Eun, who was previously president of AOL Media and Studios, as an executive vice president. At AOL, Eun oversaw the company's efforts to provide more premium content.



    Previously, Eun worked at Google where he was involved with projects such as Google Books, YouTube, and Google Maps. He also worked at traditional media companies NBC and Time Warner.



    And AOL's pre-eminent position in the online media delivery market is testimony to his brilliant success.





    Oh, wait.......
  • Reply 14 of 44
    It used to be "Redmond, start your photocopiers!" Now it's become "Mountian View and Seoul, start your photocopiers!"



    It's like two of the bad kids in class copying off the test of the smart kid. Do your own work!
  • Reply 15 of 44
    Why doesn't Samsung just go back to making halfway-decent TVs and computer displays? Their phones suck, their tablets suck, their laptops suck, they seem completely unfocused in what they're trying to do, who they're trying to be. If they seemed even halfway capable of pulling off a venture into providing content, this might not seem so crazy. They make so many phone models how's anyone supposed to pick one? I lost count of how many "Tab" models they make (such a STUPID name) - one or two tablet models should be enough. I'm certainly not a Samsung phone or tablet user, but how can a company so unfocused even survive? I'll be glad when their Android empire crumbles and they go back to making TVs and computer displays.
  • Reply 16 of 44
    These copyists need to be put in their place. Boycott Samsung and teach them a lesson about intellectual property theft.
  • Reply 17 of 44
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Blitz1 View Post


    It's not Apple, so it bound to fail, Like their share in the smartphone business.



    That is a great example.



    I expect that Samsung's media offerings will be to iTunes as Samsung smartphone sales are to iPhone sales.
  • Reply 18 of 44
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ElectroTech View Post


    These copyists need to be put in their place. Boycott Samsung and teach them a lesson about intellectual property theft.



    Not "copyists" so much as "us-too-ers." Everybody sits back and watches to see what Apple does and then, if Apple hits a home run, the boards of these companies send out the "us-too" edicts. The whole world laughed when Steve Jobs intoduced the iPod followed by the iTMS. The walled garden arguments, the DRM arguments, the CDs are better arguments, you name it. But years later companies like Samsung look at the success and say "us-too". Siri was trashed by the Android crowd but now Google is "developing its answer" too, called Majel. More us-too-ing.
  • Reply 19 of 44
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ElectroTech View Post


    These copyists need to be put in their place. Boycott Samsung and teach them a lesson about intellectual property theft.



    You would have to ban all apple hardware. Apple can not produce anything high quality without samsung.
  • Reply 20 of 44
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    Samsung does not make the os, so I would not step on googles toes and mess with google's music and content business unless they want to lose android early access to HTC.
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