ZEASN
ZEASN (Whale TV) licenses its WhaleOS smart TV operating system to 400+ TV manufacturers and operates Whale TV+, a free ad-supported streaming service, serving both TV OEMs and end consumers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ZEASN does
ZEASN Information Technology, operating commercially as Whale TV, is a smart TV platform provider headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2011. The company licenses its WhaleOS operating system to 400+ TV manufacturers — including Philips, RCA, JVC, Blaupunkt, Telefunken, Onvo, Aiwa, Magnavox, Westinghouse, Akai, Kodak, Schneider, Dixon, Impex, EFL, and Premier — for embedded deployment on smart TV hardware. Its product stack comprises four components: Whale TV (the consolidated OS unifying broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected devices), Whale TV+ (a free ad-supported streaming TV/FAST service offering thousands of hours of live and on-demand content), G-Engine (the proprietary technology engine underlying the platform), and Whale Framely (an AI-powered smart assistant for the TV interface).
The business model is multi-pronged: (1) platform licensing and royalties from OEMs embedding WhaleOS, (2) advertising revenue from the Whale TV+ FAST service, and (3) marketplace/content distribution fees from third-party app and channel partners hosted on the platform (e.g., Blacknut for cloud gaming, Amazon MX Player for streaming in India, and SoFast for FAST channels). Distribution is anchored on the OEM embed channel — consumers encounter the platform pre-installed on purchased televisions — with secondary self-serve/PLG access via Whale TV+ and a developer-facing marketplace for app distribution.
Operationally, ZEASN operates with a lean team (11–50 employees) relative to its global footprint and partner network. Its corporate identity spans Chinese roots (a Guangdong ICP filing is published in its site footer, indicating Chinese incorporation or operating entity) and Dutch headquarters, serving global markets with explicit emphasis on India via the Amazon MX Player partnership. Two 2023 acquisitions — Foxxum and rlaxx TV — consolidated the competitive landscape of independent Smart TV OS providers and added content/FAST infrastructure to the platform.
ZEASN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZEASN
- Legal name
- ZEASN
- Website
- https://zeasn.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ZEASN (Whale TV) licenses its WhaleOS smart TV operating system to 400+ TV manufacturers and operates Whale TV+, a free ad-supported streaming service, serving both TV OEMs and end consumers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ZEASN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
ZEASN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Platform Licensing: Licensing WhaleOS platform to TV manufacturers for embedding in their smart TV products
- Advertising Revenue: Monetization of Whale TV+ free streaming service through advertising, serving ads to viewers of live and on-demand content
- Content Distribution/Partnerships: Revenue from hosting and distributing third-party streaming apps and channels on the Whale TV platform, including services like Blacknut cloud gaming and Amazon MX Player
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ZEASN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZEASN licenses its Whale TV smart TV operating system (WhaleOS) to 400+ TV manufacturers for embedded deployment on consumer smart TVs, providing a unified interface that integrates broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected devices. The company also operates Whale TV+, a free ad-supported streaming (FAST) service offering thousands of hours of live and on-demand content directly to consumers on those same TVs, including 35+ FAST channels through partnerships with content providers.
Product overview
ZEASN operates as a smart TV platform provider offering an integrated ecosystem of products centered around the Whale TV operating system. The core offering includes Whale TV (the smart TV OS that combines broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected devices), supplemented by Whale TV+ (a free ad-supported streaming service with live and on-demand content), G-Engine (the underlying technology engine), and Whale Framely (an additional product in the lineup). The platform partners with 400+ TV manufacturers including Philips, RCA, JVC, Blaupunkt, and others who pre-install the Whale TV OS on their televisions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Whale TV: Smart TV platform with broadcast TV, streaming apps and connected devices integration
- Whale TV+
- G-Engine
- Whale Framely
Products and services
- Whale TV Whale TV is a smart TV operating system (WhaleOS) that consolidates broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected devices into a unified entertainment interface. It is designed for simplicity and integrates linear broadcast with internet-based content, and is licensed to TV manufacturers for embedding in their smart TV products.
- Whale TV+ Whale TV+ is a free ad-supported streaming service (FAST) offering thousands of hours of live and on-demand TV content. It provides access to live TV channels and on-demand programming without subscription fees, monetized through advertising.
- G-Engine G-Engine is a proprietary technology engine powering the Whale TV platform, providing the underlying system infrastructure for the smart TV operating system.
- Whale Framely Whale Framely is an AI-powered smart assistant for the TV interface, complementing the Whale TV platform ecosystem.
Companies that use ZEASN
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ZEASN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ZEASN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- BlacknutcoreBlacknut, a cloud gaming streaming service, launched on the Whale TV platform, allowing consumers to access cloud-based gaming through their smart TVs without additional hardware.
- SoFastcoreSoFast launched 35 Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels on Whale TV+, expanding the content library available to Whale TV+ viewers with live streaming channels.
- Amazon MX PlayercoreAmazon MX Player launched on the Whale TV Platform specifically in India, providing access to Amazon's video streaming content library through the Whale TV interface.
- PhilipscorePhilips smart TVs ship with Whale TV platform pre-installed, one of 400+ TV manufacturer partners embedding the WhaleOS operating system.
- RCAcoreRCA smart TVs ship with Whale TV platform pre-installed as part of the 400+ TV manufacturer partner ecosystem.
- JVCcoreJVC smart TVs embed Whale TV platform as part of their smart TV offerings.
- BlaupunktcoreBlaupunkt smart TVs feature pre-installed Whale TV platform as part of the OEM partnership network.
- TelefunkencoreTelefunken smart TVs ship with Whale TV platform pre-installed.
- OnvocoreOnvo smart TVs embed the Whale TV platform.
- AiwacoreAiwa smart TVs feature pre-installed Whale TV platform.
- MagnavoxcoreMagnavox smart TVs embed Whale TV platform.
- WestinghousecoreWestinghouse smart TVs ship with Whale TV platform pre-installed.
- AkaicoreAkai smart TVs embed the Whale TV platform.
- KodakcoreKodak smart TVs feature pre-installed Whale TV platform.
- SchneidercoreSchneider smart TVs embed Whale TV platform.
- DixoncoreDixon smart TVs ship with Whale TV platform pre-installed.
- ImpexcoreImpex smart TVs embed the Whale TV platform.
- EFLcoreEFL smart TVs feature pre-installed Whale TV platform.
- PremiercorePremier smart TVs embed Whale TV platform.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ZEASN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Pluto TV (Paramount): Pluto TV is a leading global FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) service offering hundreds of live linear channels — directly comparable to Whale TV+'s FAST offering, which currently integrates 35+ SoFast channels. Pluto TV is a model and competitor for the ad-supported streaming portion of ZEASN's business.
- Tubi: Tubi is a major free ad-supported streaming service (AVOD/FAST) owned by Fox, comparable to Whale TV+'s free streaming offering. Tubi represents the kind of scale ZEASN's Whale TV+ would need to reach to be a meaningful player in ad-supported streaming.
Broad incumbents
- Roku: Roku operates the leading independent smart TV OS (Roku TV OS) and streaming platform, embedded by hundreds of TV manufacturers including TCL, Hisense, and Sharp — the same OEM-embedded model that ZEASN pursues with Whale TV. Roku TV OS is the closest direct functional analog to WhaleOS/Whale TV.
- Samsung Tizen: Samsung Tizen is the smart TV OS running on Samsung TVs — the world's largest TV brand by unit share — providing integrated broadcast, streaming, and smart home features functionally similar to Whale TV's consolidated interface. Tizen competes for OEM mindshare but is largely captive to Samsung's own hardware.
- Google TV (Android TV OS): Google's Android TV / Google TV OS is licensed broadly to smart TV manufacturers (Sony, TCL, Hisense, and others) and competes directly with WhaleOS for OEM mindshare. Google TV's aggregated live TV + streaming + apps interface is the most direct UX analog to Whale TV.
- Amazon Fire TV: Amazon Fire TV OS is licensed to smart TV manufacturers (including Insignia, Toshiba, Hisense, and others) for embedded deployment and competes directly with Whale TV in OEM deals. Fire TV also offers its own FAST channel offering (Freevee/Pluto TV integrations) that parallels Whale TV+.
- LG webOS: LG webOS is the smart TV OS for LG TVs (the world's #2 TV brand), offering integrated broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected device controls in a unified interface — directly comparable to Whale TV's value proposition. LG has begun licensing webOS to other OEMs, intensifying competition for ZEASN's target segment.
- TCL (Smart TV OS via Google TV / Roku): TCL is one of the world's largest TV OEMs and uses Roku TV OS and Google TV on its devices rather than Whale TV. TCL's competitive position with tier-1 OS partners puts pressure on ZEASN's pitch to similar emerging-market OEMs.
Direct peers
- Xperi (TiVo): Xperi (which acquired TiVo's IP and metadata business) licenses TiVo-powered smart TV platforms and metadata services to TV OEMs, directly competing with WhaleOS for OEM licensing deals. TiVo's CTV platform business is functionally the most analogous independent smart TV OS licensor to ZEASN.
Regional players
- Xiaomi (PatchWall / MIUI for TV): Xiaomi's PatchWall smart TV OS powers Xiaomi/Mi TVs and is licensed selectively to other brands in Asia. It competes with Whale TV primarily in Asian emerging markets where ZEASN is also growing (e.g., via the Amazon MX Player India partnership).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ZEASN social profiles
Digital presenceZEASN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZEASN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ZEASN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZEASN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZEASN
What does ZEASN do?
ZEASN licenses its Whale TV smart TV operating system (WhaleOS) to 400+ TV manufacturers for embedded deployment on consumer smart TVs, providing a unified interface that integrates broadcast TV, streaming apps, and connected devices. The company also operates Whale TV+, a free ad-supported streaming (FAST) service offering thousands of hours of live and on-demand content directly to consumers on those same TVs, including 35+ FAST channels through partnerships with content providers.
Is ZEASN a public or private company?
ZEASN is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ZEASN founded?
ZEASN was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ZEASN based?
ZEASN is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does ZEASN make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Platform Licensing is the primary driver. The others are advertising Revenue and content Distribution/Partnerships.
Who are ZEASN's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Pluto TV (Paramount) and Tubi. Broad incumbents are Roku, Samsung Tizen, Google TV (Android TV OS), Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS and TCL (Smart TV OS via Google TV / Roku). Xperi (TiVo) is listed as a direct peer. Xiaomi (PatchWall / MIUI for TV) is listed as a regional player.
Does ZEASN have an API?
Yes. ZEASN exposes a public API. Developer documentation is at developer.whaletv.com.