The US is leading the way in terms of revenues and volume of activity in Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST), but as FAST breaks out of the boundaries of the American market, more attention is being drawn to Europe and its FAST market will develop.
Although the European FAST landscape is much smaller than the US, with 600 channels across 7 platforms compared to the US’s 1,800 channels across 14 platforms, key markets are set to grow significantly.
However, there are distinct market characteristics in Europe, meaning the FAST landscape is developing very differently and presenting unique challenges and opportunities. In Europe, unlike the US, there is a strong Free TV offer where local TV dominates and local content is already available through free TV platforms. Localisation is also a unique challenge; AcrossEurope, there are multiple languages which present the need for subtitling and dubbing, often resulting in distributors being unable to launch in a territory.
During this years’ IBC, I discussed the various factors that will contribute to the growth and success of FAST on the European continent.
Topics discussed:
- Why growth and adoption of FAST services has been slower than in the US
- Top European FAST territories
- Monetisation
- Ai and FAST
- Localisation
- Technical challenges
- Distribution trends
With rapid yet scattered growth in Europe, being able to answer key questions in the FAST space has become vital, whether you’re a distributor looking to find platforms or channels to distribute, a platform wanting to discover what content is available or a technology provider wanting to seek opportunities in the ecosystem. FAST Tracker is our TV industry service that gives you an extensive and detailed view of the FAST ecosystem. Tracking major platform activity, channel owners and global channel distribution, FAST Tracker enables you to identify opportunities and analyse competitors so that you can make informed business decisions that accelerate your strategy.
This video was originally posted by IBC. To view the write-up on the panel, head to IBC 365.
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