Disney Tests Free FAST Channels as Growth Play for Streaming

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro says the company is evaluating free FAST streaming channels to expand its ad-supported reach and funnel viewers toward Disney+, Hulu, and other paid services. He emphasized that streaming remains a core growth area and that a direct-to-consumer model provides valuable first-party data, with Disney planning future Disney+ enhancements (games, merch, personalization). No concrete announcements were made, but the move highlights Disney’s strategy to diversify monetization beyond licensed content amid industry consolidation.