FAST will account for nearly 20% of the UK’s $3 billion premium online ad-supported video market by 2027 (of which $500 million will be attributed to FAST), according to new findings released by Blue Ant International at the London TV Screenings, conducted by research firm Omdia. The discovery points to FAST channel revenue in the UK quadrupling in the next four years, from the current $128 million earnings.
Blue Ant International notes that growth numbers – previously released in a now-updated Omdia global study on FAST – signaled the exponential audience adoption of FAST platforms and a growing need for producers and content owners around the world to navigate and access this emerging market.
The report also revealed that UK FAST channel revenue has already increased 180 times between 2019 and 2022, and that FAST is a weekly habit for 15% of UK online viewers. Meanwhile, in terms of content, in the United States, local news channels have carved out an important niche on FAST. In fact, news was the top FAST channel genre is the country, according to Amagi, with 33% of hours of viewing, 8% for movies and crime, 7% for entertainment, and 3% for sports.
“As a global distributor with a proven track record, our goal with these new findings is to demystify how FAST will perform outside of North America, specifically in the UK where free-to-air still reigns supreme. The updated data highlights FAST as an opportunity for creators to maximize the value of their IP in the UK via windowing strategies that will extend the life and revenue of their productions. We are here to help them navigate through that journey,” said Lilla Hurst, Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships at Blue Ant International.