All articles tagged with #fast channels
US PS5 owners can now access over 100 ad-supported FAST channels from Sony Pictures Television, plus on-demand options, via the Media tab, with movies, shows, anime (Crunchyroll), sports and more; Sony will refresh programming and roll the service out to Canada and other regions, aiming to keep users on PlayStation and boost ad revenue amid licensing and disc-deprecation debates.
Disney is exploring a free, ad-supported FAST channel product to broaden its reach to price-sensitive viewers, boost ad revenue, and potentially help grow Disney+ subscribers. CFO Hugh Johnston said content spending will be about $24 billion this year, with international growth viewed as a key opportunity. At the same time, Disney is tightening operations—pursuing speed, agility and meaningful cost reductions in labor and SG&A after recent layoffs—while maintaining shareholder returns through dividends and a large buyback funded by redirected OpenAI investment and an A&E deal.
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.
For the first time, streaming services have surpassed combined broadcast and cable TV viewing, accounting for 44.8% of total TV consumption in May 2024, driven by growth in free ad-supported channels, YouTube, and media companies shifting focus to streaming platforms, with Netflix leading subscription services.
Roku is integrating its content into Google TV, allowing users to search and access The Roku Channel's library directly from Google TV. This includes over 80,000 movies and TV shows, as well as more than 500 free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels. The integration will feature new category tabs on the Google TV home screen, enhancing user experience by suggesting recommended content and enabling easy access to unfinished shows. This move is part of Roku's strategy to expand its presence on Android-powered TV devices and compete in the growing FAST TV market.
Free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms like Tubi, Roku Channel, and Pluto TV continue to grow, surpassing premium subscription services in TV share for the second consecutive month in June. Their success is driven by being free, focusing on user experience, and leveraging personalized recommendations and acquired content. This model challenges the traditional premium subscription approach, raising questions about the value of paid streaming services.
Roku and NBCUniversal are collaborating to launch several free, ad-supported FAST channels on the Roku Channel, featuring popular shows from NBCU's library. The channels will include long-running series such as Murder, She Wrote, Saved by the Bell, Little House on the Prairie, Columbo, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Hang Time, Punky Brewster, Major Dad, and Bad Girls Club. This expands Roku's existing FAST offerings and strengthens their relationship with NBCU. Additional channels, including Universal Action and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, will be launched later this year.
Google TV has expanded its free streaming lineup to over 800 live TV channels, including Tubi, Plex, and Haystack News, directly in its redesigned Live tab, alongside its existing lineup of channels from free streamer Pluto TV. The company claims this expansion will make Google TV the platform offering the most free TV channels within one electronic programming guide. The new live TV experience launches starting today to all Google TV devices in the U.S., including its Chromecast with Google TV and TVs with Google TV built-in from Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Philips.