- Spotify is pairing up with Samsung to launch an exclusive free-to-air channel on Samsung TV Plus, just days after announcing its major partnership with Netflix
- The new Samsung TV Plus channel will stream a 24-hour loop of video podcast episodes from The Ringer podcast network
- It is available now on Samsung TVs with Samsung TV Plus
Spotify is entering the world of free TV streaming, and the music platform has just announced a new partnership with Samsung TV Plus – the TV giant’s flagship free streaming service. But it won’t be streaming music videos, and will instead focus on video podcasts.
The news comes hot on the heels of another new Spotify deal that will see a selection of video podcasts come to Netflix in 2026.
In the case of Samsung TVs, Spotify brings one of its most popular podcasts to the big screen. Bill Simmons’ The Ringer, a sports, entertainment and pop culture podcast network, is landing exclusively on Samsung smart TVs that support Samsung TV Plus and will be completely free to access.
When you open Spotify’s new FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel, you’ll be able to watch The Ringer’s video podcasts in a 24-hour streaming loop and watch over 50 of the podcast’s most popular shows.
These include The Rewatchables, a show that dissects cinema classics, Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, which highlights pop culture news and House of R, a show that delves into some of the most iconic fictional universes from Star Wars to Game of Thrones. That said, not all The Ringers shows, such as The Bill Simmons Podcast, are available to stream on Samsung TV Plus yet.
As one of the best music streaming services, Spotify has had quite a monumental 2025, from the launch of its Apple Music rival audio mixing tool to the long-awaited Spotify Lossless. Now it’s adding FAST channels to the list, and Samsung has expressed its excitement:
“The Ringer brings an arsenal of talent and some of the most dynamic, culture-shaping voices to Samsung TV Plus as we continue to redefine what TV can be, opening up a whole new dimension of entertainment for audiences to explore,” said Senior Vice President and Global Head of Samsung TV Plus Salek Brodsky.
As mentioned, Samsung is not the only exclusive partnership that Spotify has scored, and the music giant will also work closely with Netflix in 2026 to bring video podcasts to one of the top streaming services – which also includes shows from The Ringer and podcasts from Spotify Studios.
These two partnerships open up a new way for Spotify to continue to push its focus on the increasingly popular video podcast format. But if Spotify were to launch its own 24-hour music channel alongside the likes of Vevo instead, it would patch up the wounds of MTV’s recent decision to pull itself off the air. Bring back the epic days of the music channels, I say.
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