Samba Tech video platform ready to launch Smart TV apps

Opera TV Snap expands into Latin America

Smart TV users in Latin America will be able to enjoy more local content on their screens, thanks to a partnership between Opera Software and Samba Tech, the online-video-platform pioneer in Latin America with 400 million video views every month.

With Opera TV Snap technology, content publishers using Samba Tech can offer their online video catalogs to massive new audiences eager for local content. Opera TV Snap transforms online video channels into ready-to-run apps fully optimized for Smart TV devices and set-top boxes, in no time and at no cost.

“We believe that this partnership will be able to further leverage the market of publishers in Brazil. Our platform is the ideal model for this segment. We operate with robust software and customized solutions for every need, serving the total market,” says Gustavo Caetano, Samba Tech CEO.

Online video has proved to be the most popular content for connected-TV viewers, reflecting a strong consumer preference for watching over-the-top (OTT) streamed-video content on the largest screen in the home.

According to The NPD Group, the number of consumers using their TVs for viewing paid and free video streamed from the web has risen, while consumers who used a PC as the primary screen declined over the past year. This shift also shows the rapid adoption of connected TVs.

“The number of Smart TV users in Latin A­merica is growing fast, bringing new and exciting possibilities for local content providers,” says Juliana Psaros, Opera Software’s Content & Business Development Manager for TV & Devices in Latin America. “It’s now time to offer more regional content to these users, and we are excited to partner with Samba Tech to make this possible.”

First apps to launch with Samba Tech

Minha Vida, the biggest Brazilian portal for health and well-being, and Endeavor, an organization promoting entrepreneurship through inspiring videos, are the first to launch apps using the tool.

“Large publishers, like Minha Vida and Endeavor, have already noticed that the online videos’s segment is one of the best alternatives to those who want to stand out in the market. With these two cases, we will be able to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of this model,” says Gustavo Caetano.

Publish your app in a snap

Reaching millions of new viewers with Opera TV Snap is fast and easy. Content publishers using Samba Tech can visit opera.com/tvsnap/ and click “Get started”. After adding the details of their video channels, Opera TV Snap will automatically load all the videos from their online video catalogs into new Smart TV apps, ready to submit for review.

End-to-end solution with Opera TV

Through its suite of products, Opera TV provides a complete end-to-end solution – from app creation to distribution. Opera TV Snap takes care of app development. Monetization is powered by leading advertising platform Opera Mediaworks. Finally, apps are distributed through the Opera TV Store, an HTML5-based application platform that gives users a rich selection of entertaining and informative apps.

The Opera TV Store is currently shipped on millions of devices with pay-TV operators and major televisions, Blu-ray Disc players and set-top-box manufacturers including Sony, TiVo, Samsung, RCA, TCL, Vestel , Amino, Changhong, Humax, Hisense, Konka, Skyworth and more.

Check out this video to learn more about the Opera TV Snap technology.

About Opera TV

The Opera TV portfolio powers rich web experiences on tens of millions of Smart TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players and chipsets for more than 60 customers, including Sony, TiVo, Samsung, Swisscom, Philips, TCL and Sharp.

Tap into the complete suite of tools for creating compelling connected-TV experiences. The Opera TV ecosystem spans the Opera TV Store app platform, with hundreds of entertaining apps tailor-made for TV, the Opera Devices SDK (software development kit) for creating and rendering HTML5-based user interfaces, and the Opera TV browser for reaching the full web. Opera TV offers solutions for OEMs, pay-TV operators, broadcasters and content publishers. In conjunction with the Opera Mediaworks advertising platform, Opera TV can help monetize and drive traffic to content through an end-to-end advertising solution. Visit www.opera.com/tv/ to learn more. 

About Samba Tech 

Samba Tech is a pioneer in online video distribution market in Brazil and one of the most innovative companies in Latin America, according to FastCompany. Through Samba Videos, online video platform, the company offers technology for management, distribution, monetization and measurement of consumer videos. Working with solutions for Internet TV, distance learning, Corporate Training and Live Webcast, Samba Tech contributes to democratize access to videos and spray the message on the Internet.