Samsung has treated its TV owners to over a dozen new Christmas films and TV shows at no extra cost. The new additions arrive on Samsung TV Plus, which is built into all Samsung Smart TVs from 2016 onwards to challenge the likes of Amazon's Freevee, ITVX, All4, and other advert-supported streaming services.
New shows and movies are added to Samsung TV Plus all of the time, but the South Korean firm has added a sleigh-load of new content for the month of December. Unfortunately, you're not going to find your favourite Christmas classics available to watch for free – so don't hold your breath for the likes of Elf, The Grinch, Miracle on 34th Street, or any entries in the Home Alone franchise.
Instead, Samsung has turned to US brands Hallmark and Lifetime to fill their schedules this Christmas. These saccharine sweet films, which also regularly air on Channel 5 in the weeks before Christmas, have become a phenomenon on social media due to their cheesy dialogue and predictable plotlines.
If you haven't got the sweet tooth needed for those movies, Samsung TV Plus viewers will also be treated to Christmas shows from late-night talk show host and ex-Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien and chef Jamie Oliver. And if you're just looking for something festive to have on-screen in the background, Samsung has added a channel dedicated to 4K footage of a log-burning fireplace.
Jamie Oliver is one of the celebrities who has signed an exclusive deal to bring content to Samsung TV Plus, the ad-supported streamer built into every Samsung-branded Smart TV sold worldwide. You'll also find syndicated shows like Mythbusters, American Idol, and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares
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Although there's no shortage of fireplace footage on YouTube, it's a few clicks away on your Samsung TV remote, which means it's easier to fire up when you want to add some extra cosiness to your living room this Christmas.
If you don't own a Samsung-branded telly, unfortunately, there's no way to access Samsung TV Plus on the big screen. However, Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets can stream everything included with Samsung TV Plus. So if you want to finish a film you've started on the big screen in bed or on your commute, you can resume on your tablet or phone.
Here's the full list of new Christmas films coming to Samsung TV Plus in December 2023...
There are also dedicated channels called Holiday Movie Favorites by Lifetime and Hallmark Movies & More. The latter will broadcast new Christmas films every weekend throughout November and December.
If you're looking for something a little different, Secret Santa sees Conan O'Brien and Andy explore the holiday tradition in their chaotic and inimitable way. The show is available as part of the Conan O'Brien TV channel, which is dedicated to broadcasting uniquely curated as 30-minute compilations of clips featuring the best of Conan’s late-night archives, including sketch comedy, celebrity guests and more.
The channel is the result of an exclusive partnership between the late-night host and Samsung.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has signed a similar deal with the South Korean brand, which will be broadcast between November 20 - December 25, 2023. The show sees the best-selling author and his family as they celebrate the holidays by "cooking up delicious feasts and creating festive traditions".
As well as the festive fare, there's a truckload of popular syndicated shows available to stream (with adverts) on Samsung TV Plus, including the original run of Mythbusters, episodes of American Idol (the US equivalent of The X Factor) and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, to name just a few.
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If you've never used Samsung TV Plus before, you can find the ad-support streamer built into the app bar located at the bottom of your TV screen. It appears alongside staples like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and shortcuts to settings like HDMI inputs.
Simply click on the Samsung TV Plus app to enter the experience!
