Google TV, Samsung Tizen and the other TV platforms will soon be joined by Whale OS, although some buyers may already have encountered it in disguise.
The first TV devices with Whale OS will launch in the first half of 2025, according to the company behind it, Whale TV.
Whale TV did not want to comment on specific brands or devices that Whale OS will appear in, as it is be up to TV manufactures to announce specific models built on the licensed Whale OS.
- "Licensing a TV operating system is simply the only way forward for most TV brands. We bring 13 years of experience to the table and are able to deliver a TV OS that is ready for global deployment and is tried and tested by millions of households," said Jason He, CEO of Whale TV.
Whale OS. Photo: Whale TV
Operating system in disguise
When the CEO mentions that they have 13 years of experience, it is because Whale OS already existed under the name Zeasn. TV makers have been able to license it for several years and market it under any chosen name.
FlatpanelsHD has learned that Zeasn – now Whale OS – has, for example, been the foundation under Philips' Saphi OS, which was replaced by Titan OS in the 2024 models.
Whale TV has over 400 TV brands as partners, claiming that the operating system currently powers more than 41 million active TVs. These include models from Philips, Sharp, TCL, JVC and RCA.
Whale OS for consumers
Now, Zeasn is rebranding to Whale OS and will be marketed as Whale OS to consumers. The version in next year's TV devices will be Whale OS 10.
It is built on linux and it can pull content from apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Dazn onto the homescreen as "recommendations". In addition, it will have a section with access to free, ad-supported TV channels similar to Pluto TV or Samsung TV Plus.
Also read: Video: Here's Panasonic's first Smart TV with TiVo OS
A voice assistant, powered by ChatGPT, can help users find content. Whale OS is localized for 68 languages and is ready for global rollout, the company said.
Ads are a cornerstone of Whale OS.
- "We play a pivotal role in enabling consumers to navigate the streaming world seamlessly, but also empower content partners and advertisers to reach engaged viewers," said Jason He.
In 2025, Whale OS will join a long list of other TV platforms including Google TV, Apple's tvOS, Amazon's FireTV, Samsung's Tizen, LG's webOS, Roku OS, and more recently Titan OS and TiVo OS.
