4 May 2022 | By 

Competitive pressures toward free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service differentiation with higher value content have been further intensified by the entry of leading smart TV brands into the crowded field.

With global smart TV ownership now representing 32% of the TV market base, according to Strategy Analytics, these suppliers have amassed enough viewers to make it worthwhile for FAST service providers to gain exposure on their platforms through revenue-sharing partnerships. By 2026, smart TVs will be in 1.1 billion homes representing 51% of the market, the researcher says.

Most of the FAST content offered through these smart TV platforms is drawn from the same pool of providers. For media companies and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), the key in their use of FAST channels to prevent the TV suppliers from drawing their viewers away from their brands is to differentiate their FAST lineups with high-value content.

Read the full article at TV Technology.