FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV)
FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) is a streaming model where viewers watch scheduled linear channels for free, and the service earns money from ads. FAST services look like a classic TV channel guide, but they are delivered over the internet to smart TVs, streaming devices and apps. Individual scheduled streams in these services are called FAST channels.
Why it matters
FAST gives media companies a way to earn from viewers who will not add another subscription. It also gives older content a second life as ad revenue. For viewers it feels like familiar TV, which keeps them watching without having to choose what to play.
What are examples of FAST services?
Well-known FAST services include Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel and Tubi's live channels. Many smart TV makers build FAST guides directly into their TVs. Each service carries hundreds of themed channels, from news and sports to classic shows and movies.
Is FAST the same as AVOD?
No, FAST and AVOD are related but not the same. Both are free and paid for by ads. FAST offers scheduled linear channels where viewers tune in to whatever is playing. AVOD offers an on-demand library where viewers pick a title. Many services offer both side by side.
Why is FAST streaming growing?
FAST streaming is growing because viewers are tired of paying for many subscriptions, and smart TVs place free channels right in front of them. Advertisers also like the TV-style ad breaks. Content owners can earn from libraries that are already paid off.
Where it's used
OTT services and sports publishers with large libraries use FAST to reach viewers who refuse another subscription. TV makers and news publishers run FAST guides and channels to earn ad revenue.
Where it usually goes wrong, and how FastPix handles it
Joining a FAST service requires a continuous, scheduled channel stream, which content owners with only an on-demand library often cannot produce without broadcast gear.
Each FAST channel built in FastPix Cloud Playout goes out as a live stream, scheduled from on-demand titles and live events. It supports SCTE-35 markers for ad breaks. A content owner can test whether a paid-off library holds FAST viewers during a 14-day trial before committing to a channel.
By the numbers
- Pluto TV launched in 2014 and is widely cited as the first dedicated FAST platform. (Free ad-supported streaming television (Wikipedia))
- Industry analyst Alan Wolk coined the term FAST in a TVREV article in December 2018. (Free ad-supported streaming television (Wikipedia))
Related reading
- Streaming monetization models: SVOD, AVOD, FAST, TVOD, BVOD
- SVOD vs TVOD vs AVOD vs HVOD: VOD monetization models in 2026
Watch: How FastPix Cloud Playout Works | Program, Deliver, & Monetize Channels
