Back to Basics: What are FAST channels?

What’s the deal with FAST channels? They’re more than just another acronym in the OTT/CTV alphabet soup.

Free, ad-supported television (FAST) channels feel like a return to the golden age of TV watching: schedules on a grid, a laid-back channel-surfing mode, ad breaks signaling a bathroom break. This throwback experience is back in style: nearly 40% of the US population watches FAST channels each month, with total viewing hours up 43% YoY.

But what exactly are FAST channels, and how are they different from ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD)? Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers.

Let’s dig into the FAST channel definition, differentiating FAST vs. AVOD, examples of FAST channel platforms, and the current trends that are shaping FAST services.  

What are FAST channels?

FAST stands for free ad-supported streaming TV. This is streaming TV – without a paid subscription. Unlike the subscription model, FAST channels offer no-cost streaming for viewers by programmatically inserting ads into a would-be ad break.

Essentially, FAST channels translate the concept of traditional linear TV channels (like cable or satellite) to connected TVs (CTVs), mobile, tablets, and other internet-enabled devices. FAST channels primarily offer programming in the live, linear TV format, but some providers also offer ad-supported video on demand (AVOD, more on that soon).

Linear TV is just traditional TV – the streaming service sets the schedule, and viewers tune in to watch the content live.

Best of all, FAST channels are available to anyone with a smart TV or a mobile app (although some services are tied to brand-specific devices, such as Samsung TV Plus on Samsung devices or Vizio WatchFree+ on Vizio TVs).

What’s the difference between AVOD and FAST, and what are the benefits?

AVOD stands for ad-supported video on-demand. With AVOD, viewers can watch content whenever they want to, but without the cost of a subscription model. It’s content that is monetized with ads instead of a subscription. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

FAST is almost the same thing, but instead of ad-supported on-demand content, it is ad-supported live TV content. Both AVOD and FAST use ads to monetize streaming content, eliminating the need for a costly cable subscription, which also helps limit audience subscription fatigue.

In short, AVOD and FAST achieve the same thing but offer different viewing experiences.

Examples of FAST channel platforms

Viewers have no shortage of options when it comes to FAST channels. Here are a few popular examples: Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, VIZIO WatchFree+, Plex, Crackle, and Distro.tv.

FAST channels: 2026 trends

Whether you’re a marketer or a publisher, CTV is in constant flux. There’s a lot to keep up with in terms of FAST channels. That’s why we’ve rounded up 5 important trends that are shaping the future of FAST channels, AVOD, streaming, and CTV overall.

Content is becoming less exclusive.

According to Nielsen, audiences spent a record-breaking 16.7 trillion minutes streaming content in 2025, with acquired programming capturing the top spots. Popular programs included titles such as Suits, NCIS, and Grey’s Anatomy – shows that were once exclusive to specific subscription video on demand (SVOD) networks. Bringing these highly sought-after series to ad-supported services ensures that more viewers stick around to use the service – and more importantly, to see your ads.

Nostalgia rules.

Services such as Netflix and Hulu are motivated to promote content that they’ve produced, rather than in-demand shows acquired or licensed from other sources. In comparison, FAST and AVOD platforms can serve as a library serving up a very specific kind of TV — nostalgic TV. Viewers can find just about every type of genre or classic show, ranging from old-school sitcoms and vintage cowboy Westerns to reruns of The Love Boat and Saturday Night Live. 

Skipped ads? Very rarely.

FAST viewers represent a distinct and valuable audience segment. These are consumers who have actively chosen free, ad-supported content over paid alternatives and accept the advertising exchange, creating a more receptive advertising environment. Completion rates generally remain above 90% on FAST platforms, making FAST channels perfect for effective and targeted advertising.

Game on for sports channels.

FAST is the new stadium. The number of sports channels on FAST platforms has more than doubled in the last year, according to Nielsen. Sports now ranks as one of the top three genres on FAST (alongside reality and news). For advertisers, this is prime real estate. Streaming ads during the last NFL season were 66% more effective than cable and broadcast averages. Translation: FAST delivers sports audiences that are more engaged and more receptive to advertising than traditional TV viewers — at a fraction of the cost.

Cord-cutting, subscription fatigue, and cost-cutting.

You’ve already heard about cord-cutters: the people who’ve cancelled a cable or satellite TV service in favor of a paid streaming subscription. But in recent years, audiences are finding themselves with a pricey stack of premium streaming subscriptions — and they’re starting to push back.

The cost of streaming subscriptions jumped 20% at the end of 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most major platforms, such as Netflix, Disney+, and Max, have raised their prices multiple times in recent years, pushing the total cost of maintaining multiple subscriptions to rival (or even exceed) traditional cable bills. As a result, subscription fatigue is setting in.

Enter FAST. As streaming costs soar, free ad-supported options become increasingly attractive. AVOD has seen significant growth in viewership over the past years, while SVOD growth has been much more modest. Consumers are realizing that they don’t have to pay for everything, especially when FAST platforms offer compelling content libraries, live sports, and news at no cost.

Beyond saving money, this shift is about value perception. According to Deloitte, 41% percent of consumers don’t find SVOD content worth the price tag (up five points from the previous year). And 47% say they pay too much for the streaming services they use. This suggests an imbalance between SVOD’s cost and perceived value.

For many viewers, watching ads is a small price to pay for eliminating yet another monthly subscription. And for advertisers, this represents a massive opportunity. FAST audiences are actively engaged viewers who’ve chosen the ad-supported model. The economics are simple: consumers want to cut costs without cutting content. FAST delivers exactly that.

Ready to learn more?

At Verve, we’re here to help you monetize whatever kind of inventory you have, and to reach viewers wherever they are.

We support AVOD for video-on-demand channels on our over-the-top (OTT) platform. For live channels on our OTT platform, we support live linear TV and FAST channels. Plus, we offer support for addressable TV, which delivers personalized ads to different viewers for a hyper-engaging and more relevant streaming experience. Get in touch anytime to learn more.