Two Companies Want to End the "We'll Be Back" FAST Slate

Two companies want to end the "we'll be back" FAST slate

(Graphic by The Desk) Earlier this year, a media executive reached out before their appearance at an industry event. They were thinking about the best way to address one of the ongoing challenges afflicting content distributors and connected television (CTV) developers that operate free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels and apps. “The best part about FAST is that it’s commercial-free,” they quipped. Ultimately, they didn’t wind up using…

Virgin Media adds FAST into On Demand

Virgin Media is adding on-demand access to a selection of free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on its TV platform, allowing customers to watch shows outside the linear schedule at no extra cost. From today, Virgin TV homes can use the operator’s On Demand app or the main Search function to access catch-up content from 11 FAST channels for the first time: Next Up Live Comedy, Love Pets, Haunt TV, Homes Under The Hammer, Baywatch, Real C…

Virgin Media Just Made Its Free Channels More Like Netflix

Virgin Media is giving some of its FAST channels a feature they’ve never had before – the ability to watch content on-demand rather than being tied to a fixed schedule. FAST channels – Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television – are streaming TV channels that work like traditional linear TV, with scheduled programming and advert breaks. Think Freeview, but delivered over broadband instead of through an aerial. From today, 11 of Virgin’s most popula…

Virgin Media UK Make Linear FAST TV Channel Content Available On-Demand

Customers of broadband ISP Virgin Media (O2), specifically those who also take a Pay TV service via one of their TV 360, Stream or v6 box platforms, have today been informed that they’ve added video-on-demand (VoD) capabilities, “at no extra cost“, to at least some of their growing line up of FAST channels. “For the first time, [customers] can watch unmissable episodes from their favourite FAST channel shows whenever suits them outside of the li…