Free ad-supported streaming television

Free advertising supported streaming television (FAST) is a category of streaming television services, akin to linear or cable TV, represented by platforms such as Pluto TV, Rakuten TV, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, and Xumo. These services offer traditional television programming ("live TV") and studio-produced movies without a paid subscription, funded exclusively by advertising. They stand apart from platforms predominantly featuring user-generated content (like YouTube and Twitch), as well as from subscription-based ad-supported services (like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix).

FAST services can be both linear channels (sometimes referred to as "FAST channels") and video on demand content, the term was created by Alan Wolk as a way to differentiate between subscription-based, ad-supported services like Hulu, and free ad-supported linear streaming TV services like Pluto TV. Pluto TV was co-founded in 2013 by Tom Ryan, Ilya Pozin and Nick Grouf and was launched on April Fool's Day in 2014.

Platforms
The FAST ecosystem has several layers. The best-known FASTs are the aggregators, which fall into three categories.


 * FASTs owned by major media companies: Paramount's Pluto TV, Fox's Tubi, Charter Communications and Comcast's Xumo Play, Dish Network's Sling Freestream, ITV’s ITVX service, NEW ID's BINGE Korea and Allen Media Group's Local Now.
 * FASTs owned by device manufacturers: Amazon Freevee (previously IMDb TV), The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Vizio WatchFree+, and TCL Electronics' TCL Channel.
 * Independent FASTs: Plex, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s Crackle and Redbox Free Live TV, Mometu, Herogo TV, and Flixhouse.

These aggregators operate primarily in the United States as of 2022, though some, like Pluto TV, Plex, and Samsung TV Plus operate in additional countries or worldwide.

In addition to aggregator apps, there are FASTs run by a single provider such as E.W. Scripps' Scripps News, PocketWatch and FilmRise that also provide their content for use in linear channels on the aggregator apps.

Content and channels
Content on FAST services can potentially cover all television genres as well as movies, which are the most popular type of content on the FASTs. Content options can include original and/or archive programming not available through subscription streaming services. Although many FAST channels resemble traditional cable specialty channels, others may have an even narrower focus on a single program or media franchise (such as Sailor Moon, or the U.S. version of Fear Factor).

While some linear FAST channels are exclusive to specific platforms, others, such as Cheddar, Court TV, are distributed through multiple providers. Such shared channels may feature different content and presentation, or may feature less or more total commercials depending on the provider. FASTs owned by major media companies have the advantage of being able to leverage their parent companies extensive libraries.

Variety estimated that 1,455 linear channels were available through major FAST platforms as of June 2022. By May 2024, that number had risen to 1,943.

Growing popularity
As per Nielsen's monthly streaming ratings for the US market, called The Gauge, three of the FAST services are now in the Top 10 of all streaming services. As of the September 2023 ratings, Tubi, with 1.3% of viewing, ranks fifth among all streaming services, The Roku Channel, with 1.1% ranks seventh, and Pluto TV, with 0.8% ranks tenth. While The Gauge consistently shows YouTube to be the most watched streaming service on television sets, there is much debate in the industry as to whether YouTube, with its preponderance of user-generated content, is actually "TV".

As of January 2024 it is reported that over 1,500 FAST TV channels are currently in airing in the U.S. across various services.