Amazon confirmed plans to update its recently launched Fire TV Channels app. The free, ad-supported streaming platform has a new sidebar that allows users to navigate through different categories of content, paired with a slate of new content.
The Fire TV Channels kicked off in May with a catalog of free shows, live news, music videos, and sports from more than 400 different providers, such as ABC News, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, America’s Test Kitchen, and Martha Stewart. Amazon says the app will also include content from Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, TV Line, Funny or Die, GameSpot, Honest Trailer, and more.
The content on the app is divided into various categories, including News, Sports, Entertainment, Gaming, Cooking, Travel, and Music Videos. Fire TV Channels is only available on Fire TV devices in the US, and it can be accessed from the Your Apps & Channels screen without requiring a download, an app, or account.
The new update comes as Amazon makes an effort to expand FAST offerings as the influx of cord-cutters seeking an alternative to paid streaming,. In addition to Fire TV Channels, Amazon also owns Freevee, a FAST service that’s currently available as a standalone app or through Prime Video. In May, Amazon added even more Prime Video originals to Freevee to help draw in more viewers looking to hop into a library of always-on shows. The service recorded the highest viewership growth in the first half of 2023 compared to rivals like Pluto TV, Tubi, the Roku Channel and Crackle. According to Samba TV, the service grew by 11% year-over-year.