FAST channels could be worth $500 million in the UK by 2027, new research shows

Free-to-air ad-supported TV (FAST) channels are set for huge growth in the UK, according to new data.

In fact, they could account for 20%, or $500 million in revenue, of the nation’s ad-supported video market by 2027. That’s the key finding from London-based research firm Omdia’s analysis of the UK’s $3 billion premium online advertising market.

Canada-based distributor Blue Ant International commissioned the study and released the statistics today at its London TV Screenings event in the UK.

The data joins a larger Omdia study of FAST trends and suggests significant growth is ahead as content owners move more programming to FAST networks, which typically focus on specific shows or genres and offer them for free.

Other key takeaways from Omdia’s research include the discovery that the UK’s FAST channel’s revenue grew 180-fold between 2019 and 2022 and is now a weekly habit for 15% of the country’s online viewers.

Omdia found that the growth of FAST channels encouraged advertisers to spend less on free TV. It said there are “an increasing number” of “FAST native” channels.

News was identified as the top genre for FAST in the United States and Asia Pacific. Docs lead in Europe and film networks are most popular in Latin America, Omdia noted, citing data from Amagi.

“As a global distributor with a proven track record, our aim is to use these new insights to demystify how FAST will perform outside of North America, particularly in the UK where free-to-air continues to reign supreme,” said Lilla Hurst, Global said. Head of Acquisitions and Partnerships, Blue Ant International.

“The updated data highlights FAST as an opportunity for creators to maximize the value of their UK intellectual property through windowing strategies that extend the life and sales of their productions. We are here to help you navigate this journey.

Blue Ant’s FAST channels include Love Nature, HauntTV and TotalCrime.