If you’re familiar with the world of streaming services, you’ve probably heard the term Free Ad-Supported TV before. But what exactly is FAST, and how does it work? Could it be a valuable revenue stream for your video business?
With the growing dissatisfaction with subscription-based streaming services among viewers, more and more people are turning to free content that serves ads. This has resulted in the rise of the popularity of FAST. So if you’re thinking about launching your own FAST channel, now might be the right time.
- What Is Free Ad Supported TV (FAST)
- How Does FAST Compare to Traditional OTT Monetization Models?
- Why Are Streaming Providers Turning to FAST?
- How Will the Growing Popularity of FAST Impact Traditional Broadcasters?
- How to Launch a Free Ad-Supported TV Streaming Service
- Launch a FAST Streaming Service With TargetVideo
- FAQ
What Is Free Ad Supported TV (FAST)
Free ad-supported TV, more commonly referred to as FAST, is an OTT content delivery model that is completely free for viewers while generating revenue by serving video ads. The content is delivered in the form of linear scheduled programming, rather than on-demand, with ads served before, during, or after videos. This way, FAST is much more similar to traditional cable television than other OTT streaming services.
FAST vs. AVOD — What’s the Difference?
If FAST sounds familiar, you might be thinking of AVOD — another ad-supported content delivery method. While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are a few major differences.
First, FAST is always completely free — it’s in the name! On the other hand, while advertisements are the primary source of revenue for AVOD, this method doesn’t necessarily exclude other video monetization methods. For example, Netflix recently announced its plans to introduce a lower-tier pricing plan that would include ads. With this plan, users would still pay a low subscription fee while also being served advertisements.
The second major difference between FAST and AVOD has to do with the content delivery method. FAST includes linear, scheduled programming, just like traditional television. AVOD is a monetization method for video-on-demand. In other words, with FAST, you can only watch whatever is being streamed at that moment, while with AVOD, you get to pick the content you wish to stream.
How Does FAST Compare to Traditional OTT Monetization Models?
Before diving into the differences between FAST and other OTT monetization models, let’s refresh our memory on exactly what those monetization models are. If you’re planning to launch your own OTT app, you will have four ways of monetizing to choose from:
- AVOD — Ad-based video-on-demand, as we have already mentioned, is a monetization method that is based on video ad revenue;
- SVOD — Subscription-based video-on-demand relies on users paying recurring subscriptions to generate income;
- TVOD — Transaction-based video-on-demand uses one-time transactions (pay-per-view) as a source of revenue;
- Hybrid — It is also possible to use any combination of the three methods above to monetize your content.
We’ve already covered the differences between FAST and AVOD, but how does FAST compare to SVOD and TVOD?
The main advantage FAST has over these two monetization models is that it is completely free for viewers. By default, it has the power to attract a portion of the audience that is unwilling to spend money on yet another subscription service.
Why Are Streaming Providers Turning to FAST?
Have you ever heard of the term subscription fatigue? What about The Great Unsubscribe? Both terms refer to the growing discontent among viewers with streaming services. People are getting tired of having to pay for access to multiple OTT platforms, as these expenses can pile up quickly. This is why many streaming providers are experiencing a drop in the number of subscribers.
One of the possible remedies for The Great Unsubscribe is to offer free, ad-supported content. For example, Comcast’s XUMO does have a database of movies and shows you can watch on demand, but it also provides access to live news and other TV channels for free.
By offering free scheduled content, streaming providers have a chance to retain a portion of the audience that would have otherwise left the platform altogether. In addition, they attract a new audience that was never interested in paying for subscriptions in the first place.
How Will the Growing Popularity of FAST Impact Traditional Broadcasters?
The rise of FAST is an indicator of changes in viewer demands. Whether traditional broadcasters like it or not, their audience will keep seeking content channels that fit what they’re looking for. It is up to broadcasters to adapt to these changes and adopt FAST content delivery or fall through the cracks and eventually die out.
How to Launch a Free Ad-Supported TV Streaming Service
Building your own FAST channel is not an easy task, but with the right set of tools, it’s possible. First of all, you will need to build your OTT website or an OTT app compatible with as many devices as possible.
Secondly, you will need a video hosting solution as a place to store all of your video content. Sure, you can host videos on WordPress or your own server, but those solutions bring their own issues you shouldn’t have to deal with.
On top of a platform and storage, your OTT TV channel will also need a lightweight, customizable, and easy-to-use video player. Ideally, you want this player to support adaptive bitrate streaming to ensure your audience has a smooth viewing experience.
And lastly, in order to monetize your FAST channel, you will need to get in touch with advertisers and rent out your ad inventory. You can do so through an ad server, where you can connect with potential advertisers using ad tags, through a supply-side platform, which will auction off your inventory, or by using a video ad network or an OTT advertising platform.
There are multiple ways you can go about solving these tasks, but the easiest course of action would be to find a comprehensive online video platform that offers all of these services. This way, you’ll be able to manage your content, monetize videos, and track your revenue from a single dashboard.
Launch a FAST Streaming Service With TargetVideo
Are you looking for a platform that can help you launch your own FAST channel? You’ve come to the right place. TargetVideo offers unlimited storage to all of its publishers, so you won’t ever have to worry about having too much content. Also, this content will be protected using high-end DRM solutions and other security tools.
Our platform features a lightweight HTML5 player, ideal for both video-on-demand and live streaming. It is compatible with all video file formats and a wide array of devices, browsers, and operating systems.
With TargetVideo, you can easily monetize your content through digital video advertising. TargetVideo’s Premium Demand, our state-of-the-art ad network, will connect you with advertisers interested in buying your ad inventory. You can implement instream video ads into your content in just a few clicks. With TargetVideo, OTT advertising can be a piece of cake.
Does this sound like what you’ve been looking for? Then check out TargetVideo’s OTT solutions, and build your free ad-supported TV channel today!
FAQ
1. What does FAST mean?
FAST stands for free ad-supported TV. FAST is a content delivery method that is completely free to viewers and creates revenue through advertisements, rather than subscriptions.
2. What are the most popular FAST streaming services?
The most popular FAST streaming services are Pluto TV, Xumo, and the Roku Channel, to name a few.
3. Is FAST the future of OTT?
Yes, FAST is the future of OTT. While subscription and transaction-based streaming services will probably always be around, FAST has been enjoying an increase in popularity in recent years.
