FAST continues to be an industry hot topic. The free streaming format, commonly described to consumers as “live” content, has continued to attract attention in 2023, with Google now offering a FAST service within Google TV and Warner Bros. Discovery launching its first set of channels.
With profitability in streaming a renewed focus for media firms, the alchemist stone’s that FAST provides will become more of a strategic focus for entertainment companies with deep libraries of content. The ability to monetize content that previously was sitting on the shelf — and, increasingly, to be able to do so globally — means FAST will be an essential part of the playbook going forward. Should the dual Hollywood strikes go on for an extended period of time, the profits FAST can deliver will be welcome.
It’s for that reason the number of FAST channels available in the U.S. continues to climb. Mid-July 2023 saw 1,814 channels available across the 15 major services covered in our report, an increase of 29% from the prior year.
This edition of “Life in the FAST Lane” — the fifth incarnation in our continuing series — takes a look at the key trends within free ad-supported streaming TV in the United States. Who is providing content is assessed, as well as what is available by overarching genres, now broken out by English, Spanish and other-language channels.
Innovation within the format is covered, including channels based upon a single show or franchise (“single IP”) or those exclusive to a particular platform. And for the first time ever, not only are the number of exclusive channels per service shown, but so is the full breakdown of how many channels on each major U.S. FAST service are shared with one another. (Note that this is not on a channel-by-channel level, given there are now over 1,800, but within nets such as “2-5 platforms”).
The report also explores what at this point is a classic issue within FAST: measurement. Companies with FAST channels, from TV giants to studios to smaller independent channels, all frequently tell VIP+ their frustration around the opacity that surrounds viewing metrics and data from FAST platforms.
With no standardization of metric definitions — even what a viewer is can vary by service and FAST channel packager — this remains one of the biggest thorns in FAST’s paw. Luckily, there are some companies trying to shine a light on who watches FAST, and highlights from those are included.
It’s an important time to become familiar with FAST if you’re a media strategist, advertiser or content holder. This report will allow you to be ahead of the curve and thus make decisions that will yield the most possible revenue.
The format continues to build up speed, so if you haven’t already, jump into the FAST lane.
