Samsung is now the official mobile partner of Netflix. The partnership integrates the streamer’s service into Samsung Galaxy phones and offers bonus content for its titles, reports CNET.
“The mission of this partnership is to make the Netflix viewing experience on Samsung mobile the absolute best it can be,” Netflix’s Chief Marketing Officer Jackie Lee-Joe told an audience at the Unpacked industry event in San Francisco. (Samsung also announced its new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip.)
Given the competition Netflix is facing from existing rivals — Disney+, Apple TV+, as well as future streamers, like HBO Max — the Samsung alliance could be an asset. It’s also helpful internationally, where the service records the fastest growth.
CNET said the bonus content would be based on Netflix originals, such as “Narcos” and “Elite.”
“We believe this significant partnership will provide millions of Samsung mobile users across the globe the best mobile entertainment experience, and make discovering new stories around the world easier than ever,” Lee-Joe said.
However, the deal isn’t without controversy, according to Forbes:
“Where things get both more interesting and more controversial is with the second part of the Netflix/Samsung Mobile Entertainment Partnership, which will see Netflix providing exclusive content to subscribers who are using its app on Samsung Galaxy phones,” the business magazine notes.
“However, where the exclusive content is concerned, the streamer is essentially creating a situation where different subscribers to Netflix get access to different amounts of Netflix content, depending on what hardware they’re using — even though they are paying the same monthly subscription,” Forbes adds.