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Research and Report

Get to Know F.A.S.T. – Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV

Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV: Why More Advertisers (and Consumers) are Going F.A.S.T. highlights the rise of free ad-supported streaming TV and its value to advertisers today as a complement to traditional TV and streaming advertising plans.

As one of the newest forms of over-the-top (OTT), F.A.S.T. provides consumers with streaming services that feature linear-style channels, encouraging a lean-back experience and content discovery that mimics traditional TV viewing.

As the report reveals, F.A.S.T. viewership has more than doubled year-over-year, and today, 6 out of 10 households with connected TVs are using F.A.S.T. services – getting a TV-like viewing experience without the cost or login required for linear TV or paid streaming.

“The F.A.S.T. industry has grown exponentially and overlaps quite a bit now with what traditional TV has to offer in terms of both content and audience. Advertising on F.A.S.T. allows us to reach our targeted audience and is a valuable complement to our budget.”
– Horizon Media.

The report looks at new trends from F.A.S.T. provider XUMO, diving into engagement numbers and other performance metrics pointing toward the service’s success. Many consumers may be landing on F.A.S.T. channels without even realizing it – through their integration into the channel guide by TV manufacturers. In fact, 70% of XUMO users are cord cutters, relying on XUMO as a complement to subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services.

“F.A.S.T. is a new and engaging way for consumers to watch and discover premium content in an environment that mimics linear TV,” said James Rooke, President, Comcast Advertising. “And because F.A.S.T. services are easy and free to access without signing up, it’s becoming a valuable way for advertisers to reach audiences – especially cord cutters.

F.A.S.T. can serve as a valuable complement to more traditional forms of advertising; the strongest media plans combine F.A.S.T. and streaming with traditional TV in order to maximize reach and efficiency.”

Download Comcast Advertising’s F.A.S.T. Report to learn more about how F.A.S.T. is changing TV advertising.