268:, are distributed through multiple providers. Such shared channels may feature different content and presentation, or may feature less or more total commercials depending on the provider. FASTs owned by major media companies have the advantage of being able to leverage their parent companies extensive libraries.
236:
as well as movies, which are the most popular type of content on the FASTs. Content options can include original and/or archive programming not available through subscription streaming services. Although many FAST channels resemble traditional cable
30:
services which offer traditional linear television programming ("live TV") and studio-produced movies without a paid subscription, funded exclusively by advertising akin to over-the-air or cable TV stations. Platforms following this model include
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monthly streaming ratings for the US market, called "The Gauge", three of the FAST services were in the Top 10 of all streaming services in 2023. In the
September 2023 ratings,
369:
205:
These aggregators operate primarily in the United States as of 2024, though some, like Pluto TV, Plex, and
Samsung TV Plus operate in additional countries or worldwide.
706:
733:"Are We Reaching Peak FAST? With The Number Of Channels North Of 1,500 In The U.S., Industry Execs See A Shakeout Coming – But That May Not Be A Bad Thing"
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estimated that 1,455 linear channels were available through major FAST platforms as of June 2022. By May 2024, that number had risen to 1,943.
545:
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599:
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494:
190:
320:"Free, Ad-Supported Television Is Catching On FAST: Boosters Hail It As Second Coming Of Cable, But Just How Big Is Its Upside?"
344:
148:
600:"Pluto TV To Add 6,300-Plus Episodes From CBS Vault To Its Free Streaming Service As Paramount Global Divisions Harmonize"
732:
83:
The FAST ecosystem has several layers. The best-known FASTs are the aggregators, which fall into three categories.
768:
763:
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In
January 2024 over 1,500 FAST TV channels are currently in airing in the U.S. across various services.
75:). The term was coined by Alan Wolk to differentiate the category in a December 2018 article in TVREV.
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653:
446:
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104:
56:
573:
421:"Zeam, a Free Streaming Service Featuring Local News, Travel and Sports Content, is Now Live"
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27:
8:
773:
658:
550:
68:
707:"Sports gave broadcast channels a second straight month of viewing gains in September"
469:"Plex launches a live TV service with over 80 free channels, most available worldwide"
395:"Meet Zeam a New Free Streaming Service Focused on Local News, Sports, & Culture"
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While some linear FAST channels are exclusive to specific platforms, others, such as
238:
194:
136:
345:"Week In Review: AT&T Reveals The Three Faces Of Warner, Pluto Discovers Europe"
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that also provide their content for use in linear channels on the aggregator apps.
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In addition to aggregator apps, there are FASTs run by a single provider such as
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495:"Samsung TV Plus Launches Rebrand, Unveils New Content Partnerships"
55:. These services stand apart from platforms predominantly featuring
682:"Free streaming channel count drops slightly to 1,943, report says"
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546:"The FAST Approach to Streaming Content: A Special Report"
67:), as well as from subscription-based services (like
574:"Inside Cheddar, the Would-Be CNBC of the Internet"
232:Content on FAST services can potentially cover all
370:"'BINGE Korea' FAST Platform Launches in the U.S."
537:
755:
645:
201:Free Live TV, Mometu, Herogo TV, and Flixhouse.
20:Free advertising-supported streaming television
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486:
447:"Paramount Global Debuts Pluto TV in Canada"
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243:focus on a single program or media franchise
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191:Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment
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87:FASTs owned by major media companies:
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154:FASTs owned by device manufacturers:
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512:
445:Manfredi, Lucas (December 1, 2022).
149:National Association of Broadcasters
241:, others may have an even narrower
13:
493:Spangler, Todd (August 30, 2022).
419:Cheng, Roger (February 14, 2024).
14:
785:
318:Hayes, Dade (December 14, 2022).
16:Category of streaming TV services
731:Hayes, Dade (January 17, 2024).
624:Peterson, Tim (August 6, 2019).
598:Hayes, Dade (October 31, 2022).
572:Pierce, David (March 30, 2017).
393:Bouma, Luke (February 1, 2024).
294:, with 1.1% ranked seventh, and
652:Bridge, Gavin (July 11, 2022).
544:Bridge, Gavin (July 1, 2022).
467:Perez, Sarah (July 23, 2020).
412:
386:
337:
1:
654:"What to Expect Next in FAST"
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78:
7:
298:, with 0.8% ranked tenth.
10:
790:
680:Keys, Matthew (May 2024).
520:"The FAST And The Serious"
251:, or the U.S. version of
105:Charter Communications
57:user-generated content
769:Internet broadcasting
764:Streaming television
228:Content and channels
28:streaming television
185:Independent FASTs:
151:and Syncbak's Zeam.
26:) is a category of
278:Growing popularity
239:specialty channels
69:Amazon Prime Video
425:Cord Cutters News
399:Cord Cutters News
234:television genres
137:Allen Media Group
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41:The Roku Channel
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45:Samsung TV Plus
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11:
5:
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626:"WTF is FAST?"
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156:Amazon Freevee
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354:September 21,
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740:. Retrieved
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502:. Retrieved
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450:. Retrieved
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430:September 8,
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404:September 8,
402:. Retrieved
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214:Scripps News
210:E.W. Scripps
207:
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182:TCL Channel.
158:(previously
117:Dish Network
82:
23:
19:
18:
742:January 31,
609:December 8,
529:December 8,
504:December 8,
478:December 8,
452:December 8,
254:Fear Factor
248:Sailor Moon
218:PocketWatch
758:Categories
473:TechCrunch
378:January 9,
305:References
174:Channels,
79:Platforms.
37:Rakuten TV
774:New media
716:August 1,
665:August 5,
583:August 5,
557:August 5,
284:Nielsen's
245:(such as
141:Local Now
131:service,
89:Paramount
737:Deadline
686:The Desk
637:July 29,
604:Deadline
329:July 11,
324:Deadline
296:Pluto TV
266:Court TV
222:FilmRise
93:Pluto TV
33:Pluto TV
711:Nielsen
691:June 1,
659:Variety
631:Digiday
551:Variety
499:Variety
373:Variety
282:As per
272:Variety
262:Cheddar
195:Crackle
109:Comcast
73:Netflix
61:YouTube
199:Redbox
143:, and
133:NEW ID
115:Play,
65:Twitch
59:(like
51:, and
578:Wired
524:TVREV
349:TVREV
176:Vizio
162:TV),
744:2024
718:2024
693:2024
667:2022
639:2022
611:2022
585:2022
559:2022
531:2022
506:2022
480:2022
454:2022
432:2024
406:2024
380:2023
356:2024
331:2024
288:Tubi
257:).
220:and
197:and
187:Plex
160:IMDb
147:and
129:ITVX
113:Xumo
107:and
101:Tubi
71:and
63:and
53:Xumo
49:Tubi
24:FAST
193:’s
139:'s
127:’s
125:ITV
119:'s
111:'s
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97:Fox
91:'s
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