FAST Channel Advertising is very interesting. With over a thousand FAST channels in the market, advertisers need to know how they can work with these new channels and the opportunities for their ad dollars in 2023. Fortunately, we’ve got the insights you need to make the right decision regarding FAST.
Check out View TV Marketplace and View TV Reach for FAST Channel Ad-fill and FAST Channel Advertising respectfully.
What Are FAST Channels?
FAST provides a similar viewing experience of linear television — complete with commercial breaks — but is delivered at no cost through internet-connected TVs. FAST channels are supported by video advertisements that typically run 15-30 seconds. FAST channels address niche interests such as news, cooking, and true crime, among others. They can also be dedicated to reruns of popular broadcast shows or to a big event like the World Cup. However, the most popular FAST channels are fairly broad.
Currently, the top watched channels are mainly from broadcasters: Pluto TV (ViacomCBS), Xumo (NBCU), Tubi (Fox), Peacock (NBCU), The Roku Channel (RokuTM), IMDbTV (Amazon), and Samsung TV+ (Samsung).
Are FAST Channels Here to Stay?
FAST channels are yet another disruption to the broadcast television industry, a new, albeit familiar, development in an industry where television manufacturers, broadcast studios, and OTT subscription players attempt to find new ways to garner revenue.
But where does FAST fit into consumer viewing behaviour?
Viewers see FAST channels as a complement to the premium content they pay for, like Netflix and Disney+. Additionally,
FAST channels fill a gap found when consumers cut the cord, allowing them to quickly find and watch continuous content without searching and finding specific shows. Finally, familiarity with the format makes FAST a desirable option for viewers.
Key Statistics for FAST Channel Growth 4.1 billion USD is the expected revenue of linear free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) in the US in 2023. (Statista) 9 billion USD is the FAST channel ad revenue projection by 2026. (S&P Global Market Intelligence) 1,400 is the minimum number of FAST channels across 22 networks. (Variety) 18% is the increase in FAST channel ad impressions in 2022, and viewing time has gone up 10% year-over-year. (Conviva)
Just how big are FAST channel audiences?
Multiple FAST platforms are now more prominent in the number of viewers compared to cable and satellite TV platforms in the U.S. Networks continue to fuel this growth with idle content in their libraries, putting that content to good use, earning revenue with the FAST model.
Many viewers have hit their limit on monthly content subscriptions, so FAST channels are a welcome way to fill their content gaps. The bottom line: FAST channels are experiencing faster user growth and overall consumption compared to paid subscription services.
What Are the Advertising Opportunities?
The rise of FAST channels presents a new opportunity for advertisers to reach their target audience. As many FAST channels are a collection of content related to a specific niche interest, as long as marketers have a basic understanding of the interests of their target audience, FAST has the potential to make strong connections between brand and consumer.
Moreover, if a brand previously had success reaching customers on traditional broadcast television but, thanks to cord-cutting, has seen a decrease in reach, FAST channels are a great way to regain the demographic. Chris Yates, General Manager of on-demand content for Redbox, told Streaming Broadcaster the top uses for their service, Free Live TV, are live events like news.
While Redbox didn’t share numbers, Yates said, “ Watch time is really high,” thanks to binge-watching live content. But what about advertising? Bill Condon, Senior VP of Advertising Partnerships for Xumo, said they primarily sell 15-second and 30-second ads yet see advanced ads with greater CPMs in the future. Condon noted, “There’s been a ton more demand. So actually, we’re not seeing prices go down.”
So How Does FAST Advertising Work?
Advertising on FAST can be bought via programmatic auctions. It’s typically arranged with the channel operators mainly using the same ad-buying tools they’d use online. The next step is contextual advertising, where channel operators will align relevant brands with themed channels and content that fit their target audience’s interests.
The same CTV advertising done today within subscription services can also be done in the FAST ecosystem. Advertisers can work with programmatic solutions to run dynamic overlays, split screen spots, and even brand and product insertions.
You can view examples of these ads or get a deeper explanation of how this works in this ungated whitepaper. “Programmatic is driving a significant amount of our revenue where folks want to come in, and they want to buy on the audience, or they’re bringing their own data to layer on that,” says Condon. “We’re also seeing a significant increase in folks wanting to buy us from a programmatic guaranteed standpoint.” Fundamentally, the higher the data quality the advertiser brings, the better they can target.
FAST Channels Opportunities in a Nutshell
FAST channels can be an excellent opportunity for advertisers for three reasons: Their growth potential: These channels are free, available 24/7, and have no access limitations. It’s easy to see how viewership will continue to grow. Higher intent and attention: Quality thematic content appeals to easy-to-define target groups (=intent) and can generate greater audience attention. Personalization will increase: Beyond adding contextual advertising capabilities, channel operators plan to embed AI inside FAST to personalize viewing guides, increasing target audience viewership.
Data suggests FAST channels are here to stay and are an excellent opportunity for advertisers to connect with target buyers across a specific piece of content and an entire channel. If advertisers haven’t begun exploring FAST channels, 2023 is the time to start.” Jamie Branson
Free ad-supported channels (FAST) have proliferated across the media landscape, offering a potentially lucrative avenue for advertisers. With the right insights and information, FAST channels can indeed become a valuable platform for advertising in 2023.
These FAST channels, numbering over a thousand in the market, demand the attention of advertisers who seek to maximize their ad investments. To navigate this evolving landscape effectively, we provide essential insights to help advertisers make informed decisions regarding FAST.
What Exactly Are FAST Channels?
FAST channels emulate the traditional TV viewing experience, complete with commercial breaks, but they are delivered free of charge via internet-connected TVs. These channels are sustained by short video advertisements typically spanning 15 to 30 seconds.
FAST channels cater to various niche interests, such as news, cooking, true crime, and more. They can also be dedicated to reruns of popular broadcast shows or significant events like the World Cup. Nevertheless, the most prominent FAST channels tend to have broader appeal, with top-watched channels often affiliated with major broadcasters such as Pluto TV (ViacomCBS), Xumo (NBCU), Tubi (Fox), Peacock (NBCU), The Roku Channel (RokuTM), IMDbTV (Amazon), and Samsung TV+ (Samsung).
Are FAST Channels a Permanent Fixture?
FAST channels represent yet another disruption in the broadcast television industry, introducing a familiar but innovative approach as various players, including television manufacturers, broadcast studios, and OTT subscription providers, explore new avenues for revenue generation.
FAST channels seamlessly integrate with consumer viewing habits. Viewers perceive them as complementary to premium content services like Netflix and Disney+, filling the gap created when consumers cut the cord. The familiarity of the format makes FAST an attractive choice for viewers.
Key Stats for FAST Channel Growth
- Linear free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) in the US is expected to generate $4.1 billion in revenue in 2023 (Statista).
- FAST channel ad revenue is projected to reach $9 billion by 2026 (S&P Global Market Intelligence).
- A minimum of 1,400 FAST channels exists across 22 networks (Variety).
- FAST channel ad impressions increased by 18% in 2022, with viewing time rising by 10% year-over-year (Conviva).
The audience for FAST channels is expanding rapidly, with multiple platforms garnering more viewers than cable and satellite TV in the U.S. Networks are capitalizing on their library content, translating it into revenue through the FAST model. Many viewers, already saturated with monthly content subscriptions, welcome FAST channels as a way to fill their content gaps. In summary, FAST channels are witnessing faster user growth and greater overall consumption compared to paid subscription services.
What Advertising Opportunities Do FAST Channels Offer?
The rise of FAST channels presents a fresh opportunity for advertisers to engage their target audience. As FAST channels often centre around specific niche interests, marketers can forge strong connections between brands and consumers by understanding the interests of their target audience.
Additionally, for brands that previously thrived on traditional broadcast television but have seen their reach diminish due to cord-cutting, FAST channels offer a chance to regain their demographic.
Notable figures in the industry, such as Chris Yates (General Manager of on-demand content for Redbox) and Bill Condon (Senior VP of Advertising Partnerships for Xumo), have highlighted the effectiveness of advertising on FAST channels. Brands can leverage programmatic auctions, similar to online ad-buying tools, for purchasing ad slots on FAST channels. Contextual advertising aligns relevant brands with themed channels and content tailored to target audiences.
Programmatic solutions enable dynamic overlays, split-screen ads, and brand/product insertions. Advertisers can harness their data to refine targeting, resulting in more effective campaigns. Fundamentally, the quality of data brought by advertisers enhances their targeting capabilities.
FAST Channels: A Recap of Advertising Opportunities FAST channels offer advertisers a compelling proposition for three key reasons:
- Growth Potential: FAST channels are free, available around the clock, and accessible to all, setting the stage for continued viewership growth.
- Higher Intent and Attention: Quality thematic content appeals to well-defined target groups, generating increased audience engagement.
- Personalization on the Horizon: Channel operators are planning to integrate AI for personalized viewing guides, further enhancing target audience engagement.
The data strongly suggests that FAST channels are not just a passing trend but a lasting opportunity for advertisers to connect with their target audience across specific content and entire channels. If advertisers have yet to explore FAST channels, 2023 presents an ideal starting point.
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