27 Jan What Does It Take to Create and Operate a FAST Channel? [Stream TV Insider]
BY BEVIN FLETCHER
January 27, 2025 | The free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) market picked up steam at a rapid pace in the U.S. over the past few years as new and established players introduced channels and services added them at a clip. That quick ascent may be slowing a bit as channel options abound and major services become more selective about adding new ones to their lineups, meaning content owners need to bring something unique.
A FASTMaster report shows the total number of FAST channels available in the U.S. as of May 2024 stood at over 1,900 – up 47.3% from just two years prior. FAST continues to expand, but the rate of unique channel growth started to slow in the fall of 2023, per the study.
Although there are additional signs FAST is maturing in the U.S., there’s still opportunity and various business reasons driving companies and content owners to pursue 24/7 free streaming channels. And they can apparently do so with relatively minimal financial outlays.
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