FAST Channels in 2026: How Free TV Captured 5.7% of All US Viewing
Free ad-supported streaming TV now captures 5.7% of total US viewing — exceeding any individual broadcast network. The $12B FAST market is projected to reach $41B by 2035.
Free ad-supported streaming television captured 5.7% of total US TV viewing in 2025 — more than any individual broadcast network. The FAST market generated $12.23 billion in revenue, up from $6 billion just two years prior, and is projected to exceed $41 billion by 2035. What started as a dumping ground for reruns has evolved into a legitimate viewing category that now threatens both broadcast TV and the lower tiers of paid streaming.
How FAST channels work
FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channels mimic the traditional cable TV experience: linear, scheduled programming organized into channels, delivered over the internet at no cost. Unlike on-demand services (Netflix, Disney+), FAST channels play content on a schedule — you tune in and watch whatever is airing, just like broadcast TV but through an app.
The business model is pure advertising. FAST platforms sell ad inventory at rates of $15-35 CPM (cost per thousand impressions), compared to $5-15 CPM for traditional broadcast. The premium reflects better targeting — streaming platforms know far more about their viewers than broadcast networks do. A FAST channel viewer watching a cooking show can be served ads based on their age, location, interests, and purchase history, not just the program genre.
Content is typically licensed from studios at minimal cost — often revenue-share deals where the FAST platform keeps 40-60% of ad revenue and passes the rest to the content owner. For studios, FAST monetizes catalog content that would otherwise generate zero revenue.
The major FAST platforms
| Platform | Owner | Monthly Users (US) | Channels | Ad Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tubi | Fox Corporation | 100+ million | On-demand focused | 4-6 min/hour |
| Pluto TV | Paramount Skydance | 80+ million | 250-425 live | 12-16 min/hour |
| The Roku Channel | Roku | 100+ million* | 400+ live | ~8 min/hour |
| Samsung TV Plus | Samsung | 70+ million* | 250+ live | ~10 min/hour |
| Xumo | Comcast/Charter | 40+ million | 300+ live | ~10 min/hour |
*Estimated based on device installed base and engagement metrics
Tubi stands apart with the lightest ad load (4-6 minutes per hour versus 14-16 minutes on broadcast TV and 12-16 on Pluto TV) and the deepest on-demand library (52,000+ titles). It reached profitability in 2025, validating the FAST business model at scale.
Who watches FAST and why
FAST channels appeal to three distinct audience segments:
- Cord-cutters who miss channel surfing: The lean-back, passive viewing experience that cable provided. FAST channels replicate the "flip through channels until something catches your attention" behavior that on-demand services cannot.
- Cost-conscious viewers: Households unwilling or unable to pay for multiple streaming subscriptions. FAST provides a baseline entertainment option at zero cost.
- Background viewers: Content that plays while cooking, cleaning, or working from home. FAST channels excel as ambient entertainment — news, cooking shows, true crime, classic sitcoms — where active engagement isn't required.
The demographic skews older (35-64) and more diverse than paid streaming audiences. FAST over-indexes with Hispanic and Black viewers, partially because free access removes the economic barrier that creates streaming subscription disparities.
The $41 billion trajectory
FAST revenue is projected to grow from $12.23 billion in 2025 to $41 billion by 2035, driven by several structural tailwinds:
- Smart TV pre-installation: Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, and Vizio WatchFree come pre-installed on TVs. When a viewer turns on their new TV for the first time, FAST is the default. This distribution advantage is essentially free customer acquisition.
- Ad-tech maturation: Better targeting, measurement, and programmatic buying are raising FAST CPMs toward parity with premium SVOD ad tiers.
- Studio economics: Studios are increasingly licensing catalog content to FAST channels as a revenue stream for titles that have exhausted their premium licensing windows.
- International expansion: FAST is primarily a US phenomenon today, but Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, and Roku are expanding aggressively into Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
The limitation: FAST lacks live sports and premium original content, which remain the primary reasons people pay for streaming and cable. FAST is a complement to paid services, not a replacement — but it is a significant and growing complement.