Free ad-supported television (FAST) is currently one of the most rapidly-growing spaces in the TV and streaming industry. Initially, FAST was seen as an opportunity to monetise lower-value content that had already been exhausted in multiple windows. Now, more and more are realising the potential of FAST as a lucrative revenue stream, as it grows with an increasing amount of high-value branded, and even original content.
In this special episode of Inside Content, we take a deep dive into the FAST space and revisit some of the interesting conversations we’ve had with recent guests about what they’re doing with FAST channels and how they are riding the wave.
Toby Russell, 3Vision CEO, speaks with Gary Woolf, EVP of Strategic Development of distributor All3Media about the power of FAST in the content market, single IP channels and FAST channel distribution. From a distribution perspective, Gary goes into detail about the importance of establishing clarity between windowing opportunities in premium SVOD and FAST, and how to curate content on FAST that differentiates itself and taps into those VOD-first viewers who no longer view linear TV.
We then revisit recent guest Dan Fahy, SVP of Streaming at Paramount UK who speaks to our Director Hayley Bull about their FAST AVOD service Pluto. Dan describes how Pluto has become the leading FAST service in the US, harnessing the gap in the market created by the absence of free TV in North America, and how they plan to enter the more complex UK market. With 3 million viewers in the UK with no linear connection and a further 10 million who are connected to traditional cable TV but no longer use it, Dan explains how FAST is becoming an opportunity to provide those viewers with a linear-like experience via connected TVs.
Lastly, we look back on our COO Jonathan Nickell’s conversation with Richard Jakeman European Head of Business Development at Samsung to discuss how to get a FAST channel on their Samsung TV platform and the rising importance of quality technology in accompanying quality content.
Topic breakdown:
- All3Media on the role of different stakeholders, platforms and gateways in the delivery of FAST channels in the US market
- All3Media on the smart curation of content for FAST channels
- All3Media on the opportunity FAST provides to monetising content across multiple windows
- Paramount UK on the importance of FAST platform Pluto to their overall business
- Paramount UK on how they plan to maximise Pluto in the UK market
- Samsung on how to get a FAST channel on their platform
- Samsung on their partnership with ITV
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