How FAST?

The IBC 2022 exhibition, which was held in person for the first time since 2019 saw industry professionals and technology enthusiasts gather to see first-hand, what the latest trends and new innovative solutions the broadcast & media entertainment industry had to offer.

The buzzword of the exhibition, FAST (free ad-supported television), is really growing fast and seems to have overtaken SVOD (subscription-based video on demand). FAST channels, offer viewers the opportunity to view content, much like linear TV channels, but for OTT and connected TV platforms and without the need for expensive subscriptions. In this modern world, there is so much content available for the viewer and some households find themselves subscribing to multiple streaming platforms and subscription-based providers based on their demographic, interests and gender. FAST is becoming increasingly popular due to the fact it is free to the consumer, making its money from advertisements and not the audience, giving them the option to view content on multiple platforms and channels without incurring a monthly cost.

FAST offers more traditional broadcasters the opportunity to be innovative with their content and have a greater footprint across new devices and services. The growth of FAST channels will bring with it a big change to the industry whilst still maintaining some aspects of traditional broadcast television that some viewers love.

It was clear to see from the seminars I was lucky enough to attend, that this growth will continue over the coming years, transitioning linear and VOD, making viewing even more simple for it’s audiences.