The largest U.S FAST channel owners
The Streaming Lab #50
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to the 50th edition of The Streaming Lab. Thanks for reading me.
Thank you to our sponsor of the week, KWIKmotion by White Peaks solutions.
KWIKmotion has added FAST to its complete video suite, not only as channels that can be streamed on your OTT platform, but also as channels that can be pushed to various social media platforms.
With KWIKmotion's user-friendly interface, businesses of all sizes can easily create and manage their FAST channels to attract a broader audience and increase traffic and engagement.
The FAST feature is also integrated with popular advertising platforms, making it easy for users to monetize their video content. Get more details about KWIKmotion's FAST integration and meet the team at CABSAT this week ↓
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This week’s program
Today, I’m looking at the largest FAST channel owners in the US.
The more channels, the better?
Case studies: Samsung, Banijay and BBC Studios
The most distributed FAST channels in the U.S
The more channels, the better?
There are already more than 1,700 FAST channels in the U.S, coming from 500+ channel owners. Only 10% of them launched 5 channels or more.
Who are they?
FAST platforms with O&Os channels
Pluto (149 channels), VIX (40), Xumo (40), Local Now (22), Vizio (12), Samsung (9) , Stirr (9), Roku (7), Canela Media (7) and Nosey Baxter (6).
Hollywood studios
Paramount (140 channels), Warner Bros. Discovery (42), NBC Universal (31), Fox (25), Disney (17) and Sony (10).
Global content producers & distributors
E. W. Scripps (48), Entertainment Studio (44), Televisa (38), Stingray Group (37), Performance One Media (31), Xite (25), A+E Networks (22), FilmRise (22), AMC Networks (18), Lionsgate (18), Cinedigm (17), Universal Music Group (14), Fremantle (12), Invincible Entertainment Partners (9), Shout! Factory (8), Wildbrain (8), Banijay (8), Anthem (7), Chicken Soup for the soul (7) and Conde Nast (7).
Broadcasters
Hearst Television (30), Tegna (16), BBC (9), ITV (9), Cox Media (8), Conde Nast (7), Sinclair Television Group (7), Euronews (7), Blue Ant Media (6), Cowles Company (6), Morgan Murphy Media (6), PBS (6).
It’s difficult to say if launching several channels is the way to success. However, what I can say is that major broadcasters, Hollywood studios, and large content providers & distributors already established a strong footprint in the FAST universe.
Case Studies: Samsung TV Plus, Banijay and BBC Studios
Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is one of the main FAST platform out there, as they leverage with success their network of addressable TV around the world. During MIPTV, Jennifer Batty - Head of Content Acquisition in Europe - mentioned 2 interesting strategies:
Samsung TV Plus should put a soft cap of 120 channels per country very soon
The major FAST platform will increase its lineup of premium O&OS and exclusive channels
Here are the channels created by Samsung TV Plus in the U.S so far:
All Action, All-Out Reality, Clarity, Comedy All Day, Plated, Ride or Drive, Samsung Wild Life, The Hotel Inspector and The Movie Hub.
Banijay
The world's largest international content producer and distributor first launched its Deal or No Deal USA and Wipeout Extra channels on Samsung TV Plus U.S and Canada in 2020. The channels generated 14.4 million hours of viewing in 2020 alone, rising to 39.3 million hours in 2021 – a 173% increase.
Since then, Banijay kept investing in FAST, with an interesting lineup of channels:
All Real, Deal or No Deal, Fear Factor, Love Quest, Mc Leod’s Daughters, Reel Truth Crime, The Biggest Loser and Wipeout Xtra.
BBC Studios
The creator, producer and distributor of British content just launched the BBC Earth FAST channel with over 450 hours of wildlife programming to Freevee and Plex.
BBC now offers 13 channels in the U.S:
Antiques Road Trip, Antiques Roadshow UK, BBC Earth, BBC Food, BBC Home & Garden, BBC Kids, Classic Doctor Who, Doctors, Great British Baking Show, Impossible, Line of Duty, Top Gear, Top Gear en Espanol.
The most distributed FAST channels in the U.S
Building several FAST channels is a good way to test a brand in front of a large audience. However, distribution is also key.
Here are the 10 most distributed FAST channels in the U.S:
Cheddar News (12 FAST platforms)
Cheddar News is your destination for the day’s top headlines and what’s trending, weekdays from 7am to 7pm.
Baywatch (12)
Baywatch is an American action drama television series about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California and Hawaii, starring David Hasselhoff.
BeIN SPORTS XTRA (12)
A free, 24/7 English language LIVE sports, news, analysis and highlights network that brings everyone closer to the game.
Unsolved Mysteries (12)
Hosted by Robert Stack, this classic series delves into unsolved crimes, tales of lost love, unexplained history and paranormal events.
MST3K (11)
A trapped human host is subjected to an endless stream of cheesy movies at the whim of their mad scientist overlords.
The Bob Ross Channel (11)
An American half-hour instructional television show hosted by painter Bob Ross which ran from January 11, 1983 to May 17, 1994. In Each episodes, Ross taught techniques for landscape oil painting, completing a painting in each session.
Nosey (11)
With more than 5,000 episodes of the most successful talk, court, and reality shows in American TV history, Nosey brings endless hours of family drama, betrayals, and surprises right to your living room.
Comedy Dynamics (11)
Stand-up comedy specials, TV shows, feature films and documentaries.
Scripps News (11)
Scripps News delivers compelling, context-driven news, fact-based reporting, and a deeper look at the “why” of each story with objective, impactful storytelling.
Dove Channel (11)
A top source for family-friendly content, feature films and television titles filled with uplifting and enlightening programming that the whole family can enjoy together.
That’s all for today, the largest FAST channel owners in the U.S.
See you online next week. Until then, enjoy the Octonauts with your kids on Netflix. The show follows an exploring crew who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from which they go on undersea adventures. It has been compared to Star Trek and Thunderbirds blended with Jacques Cousteau 🐠