PUBLISHER: Global Industry Analysts, Inc. | PRODUCT CODE: 1739139
PUBLISHER: Global Industry Analysts, Inc. | PRODUCT CODE: 1739139
Global FAST Channels Market to Reach US$18.8 Billion by 2030
The global market for FAST Channels estimated at US$8.6 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$18.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.9% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Linear Channels, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 12.8% CAGR and reach US$12.5 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Video on Demand segment is estimated at 16.4% CAGR over the analysis period.
The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$2.4 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 18.4% CAGR
The FAST Channels market in the U.S. is estimated at US$2.4 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$4.0 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 18.4% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% and 12.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 11.0% CAGR.
Global FAST Channels Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized
Why Are FAST Channels Reshaping How We Watch Television?
The global rise of Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels is fundamentally altering the traditional broadcasting and streaming landscape. Unlike subscription-based models, FAST channels offer viewers access to a linear TV experience-often curated by theme or genre-without any monthly fees, monetized entirely through advertising. This model appeals to a wide audience segment seeking “lean-back” viewing with minimal commitment, especially as subscription fatigue grows amid a crowded SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) market. Platforms like Pluto TV, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, and Roku Channel have led this evolution by aggregating hundreds of ad-supported channels, often organized around niche interests such as classic sitcoms, cooking, gaming, horror, or lifestyle. Consumers are embracing FAST for its simplicity, variety, and zero-cost access to familiar content-ranging from reruns and documentaries to movies and live news. The resurgence of linear-style viewing is also a reaction to the overwhelming choice and personalization fatigue prevalent in on-demand services. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated cord-cutting trends, pushing millions of households to explore free alternatives that deliver a structured viewing experience with minimal onboarding. This renewed interest in scheduled programming-repackaged in a digital format-has positioned FAST as a bridge between the golden age of cable TV and the hyper-personalized streaming era, offering content nostalgia in a modern wrapper.
How Is Content Licensing and Curation Powering the FAST Channel Boom?
Content licensing and strategic curation are at the heart of the explosive growth of FAST channels, as rights holders, studios, and networks seek new monetization avenues for vast back catalogs. The ability to repackage long-tail content into genre-specific, branded FAST channels has allowed media companies to revive assets that might otherwise remain underutilized. For example, a studio with a library of vintage crime dramas can launch a dedicated “Crime Classics” channel, delivering continuous programming with minimal investment. This repurposing model offers high ROI and extends the lifecycle of content in an ecosystem that increasingly rewards breadth and depth. Major studios-including Paramount, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Discovery-have aggressively launched their own FAST channels or partnered with platforms to distribute existing IP in themed formats. Independent producers and digital-native brands are also entering the market, using FAST to build niche audiences and drive engagement. Curation plays a vital role here, as channel lineups are designed to maximize session duration and ad impressions through predictable, engaging content loops. Editorially programmed channels often outperform algorithmic feeds in retention metrics, underscoring the value of human-led scheduling. Additionally, live linear news and sports updates are being integrated into FAST environments to boost daily relevance, blending traditional broadcast staples with the convenience of streaming delivery. By capitalizing on both owned and licensed content, the FAST model has emerged as a cost-efficient and scalable solution for rights holders and platforms alike, breathing new commercial life into pre-existing media assets.
Why Are Advertisers Rushing to Get a Piece of the FAST Ecosystem?
FAST channels are rapidly becoming an advertising powerhouse, offering a compelling mix of audience scale, targeting capabilities, and brand-safe environments. As third-party cookies phase out and linear TV viewership declines, advertisers are turning to FAST platforms as a new frontier for reaching broad yet segmented audiences at scale. Unlike traditional TV, FAST platforms allow for dynamic ad insertion (DAI), enabling advertisers to deliver tailored commercials based on viewer demographics, behavior, location, or device. This level of precision, combined with the non-skippable nature of mid-roll and pre-roll ads in FAST programming, significantly enhances viewability and return on ad spend. Major brands, from consumer goods to automotive and finance, are reallocating budgets toward FAST as it offers the reach of traditional broadcasting with the data-rich environment of digital. Moreover, programmatic ad platforms integrated into FAST ecosystems allow real-time bidding and efficient inventory management, making it easier for agencies to plan, execute, and measure campaigns across multiple channels. The contextual alignment of ads with specific genres or themed content also boosts relevancy and engagement. For content owners and FAST operators, this model unlocks multiple monetization streams while keeping access to content free for the viewer-a critical factor in global markets where subscription affordability remains a barrier. Innovations in ad formats, such as branded content integrations, interactive overlays, and shoppable TV, are also beginning to emerge, further increasing FAST’s appeal as a next-gen ad platform. In essence, the convergence of linear TV familiarity and digital advertising intelligence is positioning FAST as a strategic sweet spot for marketers in a post-cable world.
What Factors Are Driving the Fast-Paced Expansion of FAST Channels Worldwide?
The growth in the global FAST channels market is driven by several factors linked to evolving viewer preferences, technological advancements, content economics, and global media consumption trends. A primary catalyst is the mounting fatigue with multiple paid subscriptions, leading consumers to seek free entertainment alternatives that offer curated content without the hassle of account management or algorithmic overload. FAST fills this gap by offering an intuitive, lean-back experience across genres and languages, often preloaded into smart TVs, mobile apps, and connected devices. Technological progress-such as improved content delivery networks (CDNs), dynamic ad insertion, and native integration into CTV operating systems-has made it easier than ever for both established networks and indie content creators to launch and scale FAST offerings. Additionally, the rising penetration of connected TVs globally has provided a fertile infrastructure for FAST adoption, especially in markets where broadband access is growing but premium content affordability remains limited. Content owners are also recognizing the economic advantage of reviving legacy libraries in this format, particularly as original content costs soar on SVOD platforms. The international expansion of FAST is gaining momentum, with localized channels now being launched in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, catering to regional tastes with dubbed or subtitled content. Viewer analytics and real-time feedback mechanisms are enabling precise curation and programming strategies that keep audiences engaged longer and improve monetization efficiency. Furthermore, hardware manufacturers and OS providers-such as Samsung, LG, and Vizio-are increasingly investing in proprietary FAST platforms, bundling free content to enhance device value and lock in user loyalty. These layered growth drivers-spanning economic, technological, behavioral, and infrastructural dimensions-are positioning FAST as one of the fastest-growing and most disruptive forces in the global media and entertainment ecosystem.
SCOPE OF STUDY:
The report analyzes the FAST Channels market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:
Segments:
Type (Linear Channels, Video on Demand); Content Type (Movies, Music & Entertainment, News, Sports, Other Content Types)
Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.
Select Competitors (Total 47 Featured) -
TARIFF IMPACT FACTOR
Our new release incorporates impact of tariffs on geographical markets as we predict a shift in competitiveness of companies based on HQ country, manufacturing base, exports and imports (finished goods and OEM). This intricate and multifaceted market reality will impact competitors by artificially increasing the COGS, reducing profitability, reconfiguring supply chains, amongst other micro and macro market dynamics.
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APRIL 2025: NEGOTIATION PHASE
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JULY 2025 FINAL TARIFF RESET
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