In a release about new audio technology, Samsung slipped in an announcement about a new M9500 UHD Blu-ray player with Bluetooth wireless streaming support and Smart Remote integration. The player has a ‘private cinema’ mode that allows audio to be streamed to wireless headphones. Audio can be supported in formats including Atmos and DTS-X. HDR content is signalled to Samsung TVs.
Analyst Comment
Few details are available on the new player, so we’ll try to get more at CES. There was no mention of Dolby Vision support, so we wouldn’t expect to see support, although some that said that they have good sources claimed that the video quality is better than the M8500 (closer to the Panasonic and Oppo, allegedly) and pricing is expected to be below the $400 level of the M8500 at launch.
Separately, Samsung said that it would add new services built around personalised content ‘Sports’, ‘Music’ and ‘TV Plus’. TV Plus is via a deal with Fandango and has already been launched in Asia. It is now rolling out in the US and will come to Europe in April 2017, although in Europe, content will be provided by Rakuten. Funke will provide A-VOD content in Germany.
Spotify, iHeartRadio, Napster, Deezer, Sirius XM, Vevo, Melon and Bugs will supply music. The service will be available starting in France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the UK and the U.S.
Samsung plans to further expand the range of content offered through the ‘Sports’ service with additional content partners including NBC Sports, UFC and more.(BR)
