LAS VEGAS — Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) operator Xumo is partnering with Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp to make its platform the operating system on a new line of Sharp TVs.
Xumo plans to launch with Sharp “this year” on sets ranging from 50- to 85-inch screens in the Sharp Aquos QLED series, said Stephanie Cassi, SVP of sales and marketing at Xumo, in this video interview with Beet.TV.
“This is really our first foray with a more premium partner, a super well-established brand with Sharp, that’s been around in the industry for a really long time. I’m really excited about it,” Cassi said.
Voice Remote, Universal Search
The collaboration aims to provide a seamless consumer experience by combining Sharp’s high-quality hardware with Xumo’s user-friendly platform.
“Our platform is really about ease of use,” Cassi said.
“We have a voice remote included with every TV, so you can universally search the platform and you can bring forth, you know, ‘Top Gun’ and all the different places that you can watch it and not have to go diving into your apps to find what it is that you want to watch.”
Sharp’s Legacy of Innovation
Cassi pointed to Sharp’s “legacy of extremely high-quality technology innovation” as a key factor in the partnership.
“Sharp Aquos had just really launched and was just making a splash in large screen TVs,” she recalled of when she started in the TV business more than a decade ago.
“So, for us, I think it’s a lot about the value they bring to the marketplace in premium high-quality, easy-use technology and how that marries up with our platform, really delivering a best-in-class product.”
The company is also focused on gaming, exploring different approaches to incorporate this feature into its offerings.
