Cover story
Cover story
FAST impressions creators as studios and the ways in which interactive and live experiences are catalysing a shift from passive viewing into active engagement.
Moderated by Natalie Jarvey of The Ankler, the panel featured Salek Brodsky, SVP and Global Head of Samsung TV Plus; Alessandra Catanese, CEO of Smosh and Bruce Casino, EVP, Sales & Distribution, US, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
FAST channels are established as part of the landscape. How has that happened in an historically-poor ad market? Colin Mann rounds up recent research on the phenomenon. the powerful synergy between Korean content and the US FAST landscape.
“ The US is the largest FAST market in the world, and Korean content is the most in-demand non-English content globally. Combining them is not just smart; it’ s a multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Platforms are hungry for premium, high-engagement content. Korean FAST channels have the audience, the global appeal, and the momentum to win in the US market,” said Rúa Aguete.
FAST gains momentum as audiences recalibrate value
As audiences grapple with subscription fatigue and a fragmented streaming landscape, the panel focused on how FAST is restoring simplicity and value to television. Samsung TV Plus anchored the conversation as a platform designed to reduce friction, offering hundreds of live and on-demand channels in one experience across Samsung TVs and devices worldwide.
“ The TV experience today can often feel like
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Research: Spain leads Europe in FAST consumption
More research from Omdia presented at Content London reveals that Spain is now Europe’ s leading free ad supported streaming TV( FAST) market, with 35 per cent of online adults watching FAST services each month. This places Spain ahead of the UK( 26 per cent), Germany( 25 per cent) and France( 17 per cent), making it the strongest European market in terms of FAST viewing.
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At the same time, the FAST business is entering a new phase of global expansion, with revenues forecast to reach $ 11 billion(€ 9.4bn) by 2030, up from $ 6 billion in 2025. Omdia forecasts that FAST revenues in Spain will reach $ 32 million in 2025 and will almost double over the next five years, rising to $ 65 million by 2030.
The FAST market growth is being driven by strong investment from major hardware and platform providers, including the likes of Roku Channels, Samsung TV Plus,
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LG Channels, Pluto TV and Fire TV Channels, combined with rising consumer demand for free, easy-to-access streaming options. Adoption continues to accelerate across both developed and emerging markets, with the US, Mexico, Brazil and Spain among the most dynamic growth regions.
“ There is a clear and growing appetite for free, linear content and Spain is leading Europe in this trend,” commented Rúa Aguete.“ FAST has become a compelling alternative for viewers who want high-quality
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entertainment without a subscription, and Spain’ s strong uptake shows just how powerful this model has become across the region.”
On the rise of creators in FAST, Rúa Aguete added:“ We are seeing YouTubers and digital creators launching their content as FAST channels, helping them diversify audiences and monetisation. But it’ s important to remember that YouTube content on a TV screen does not automatically make it‘ TV’. Otherwise, playing PlayStation games on a television would also
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Report: Korean FAST channels have significant potential in US
The US remains the world’ s most influential media and entertainment( M & E) market, generating 39 per cent of global revenues. Out of the $ 1.1 trillion(€ 0.94tn) worldwide M & E economy, the US alone contributes $ 430 billion. It also dominates streaming, accounting for 53 per cent of global SVoD revenues($ 181 billion), 80 per cent of the FAST market($ 6 billion), and 70 per cent of connected TV advertising($ 48 billion).
At the same time, Korean content has become the most popular non-English content globally, with Korean titles consistently entering Netflix’ s Top 10 most-viewed lists.
Speaking at the KFAST New York event, organised by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and KAIT, Maria Rúa Aguete, Head of Media & Entertainment at Omdia, highlighted
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With the US driving FAST growth and Korea leading the global content wave, the opportunity for Korean FAST channels in America has never been stronger.
Samsung:“ FAST restoring simplicity and value to TV”
Samsung Electronics held its FAST Forward: How New Streaming Models Are Shaping the Next Generation of TV panel as part of its Tech Forum panel series at CES 2026. Taking place at The Wynn in Las Vegas, the panel brought together leaders from entertainment and media to explore the evolution of streaming and the rapid rise of FAST.
The session highlighted the interconnected relationship between today’ s rapidly evolving consumer behaviours and preferences, the transformation of content by technology and monetisation models, the expanding role of too much work for the viewer,” said Brodsky.“ Our goal with Samsung TV Plus is to simplify television again and combine the power of linear discovery with a modern, connected experience that feels effortless, curated and truly valuable.”
The panellists emphasised that FAST has evolved into a core part of the streaming ecosystem, complementing subscription and traditional models while delivering premium, proven programming at scale. For Samsung TV Plus, that evolution is rooted in shared experiences that elevate viewing and meet users not just where they already are, but where they want to be.
Hybrid models redefine the streaming ecosystem
Panellists emphasised that the evolution of streaming is less about replacing traditional