Samsung is bringing more creators to its free, ad-supported TV (FAST) platform. Samsung TV Plus viewers will soon be able to access channels dedicated to top YouTube stars like Dhar Mann, Michelle Khare, Mark Rober, and Smosh.
The newly added offerings will join the existing creator-centric fare on Samsung TV Plus. At the 2025 NewFronts, the Korean tech company unveiled the Samsung Television Network, a platform that packages together creator-led programming in a centralized hub.
The first wave of creators who joined the Samsung Television Network included Rhett & Link and MrBeast (who is a longtime Samsung partner). With the new additions to its lineup, Samsung TV Plus now boasts access to creators who collectively reach more than 175 million subscribers.
These partnerships are not just notable for their breadth. Samsung is also locking in some exclusive content for its FAST platform. Dhar Mann Studios will produce 13 original videos for the service, bringing YouTube’s favorite moralist to Samsung TV Plus’ 88 million monthly active users.
“This is a major milestone for us as storytellers and producers,” Mann said in a statement. “Creating original episodes for Samsung TV Plus allows us to expand the reach of our mission, and bring purposeful, uplifting stories directly into even more people’s homes. It’s a powerful new chapter—not just for our shows, but for how Creators can lead on streaming.”
The cultural power of influencer marketing has convinced brands to allocate larger portions of their budgets to creator-led fare. Naturally, that shift is affecting ad-supported platforms as well. In addition to Samsung TV Plus, other FAST hubs that have onboarded creator channels include Roku and Tubi.
As Mann said, FAST partnerships are also opportunities for creators to show that they’re ready to take on their growing roles in the entertainment industry. For Mann, claims to cultural legitimacy have involved savvy business moves that have turned the creator’s namesake studio into a multifaceted operation.
Other creators are seeking a more direct form of mainstream recognition in the form of awards season buzz. That’s what Khare, Rhett & Link, and Hot Ones star Sean Evans pursued when they submitted their digital-native shows for Emmy consideration, but the Television Academy chose to shut them out. Through Samsung TV Plus, those YouTube standouts can expand their reach and make their expanding influence harder to ignore.
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