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Study finds 57% of streamers choose AVOD tiers: Consumers seek affordable alternatives amid subscription price hikes.

FAST trend grows globally: New channels from Free Live Sports, CBC, and Pluto TV showcase demand for free, ad-supported streaming options.

Zooming out: The findings align with streaming trends, with both subscription OTT video viewers and ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) viewers climbing steadily, per our forecasts. Continued growth in ad-supported streaming is helping boost overall share of subscription streaming viewers.

Free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels are showing promise, with broadcasting media company MediaCo noting 18% YoY growth in its FAST viewer base. AI-powered tools are transforming marketing. Amazon Ads鈥� Brand+ campaign management tool led to an 80% increase in ROAS and 1.5 times greater reach for clients overall.

Brands that want to continue investing in traditional media can look to options like free ad-supported streaming services (FAST) to meet customers dissatisfied with paid streaming.

US ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) viewers, by provider. US ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) viewers, by subscription OTT provider.

The number of active FAST channels has increased by 42% globally since mid-2023, exceeding 1,610 channels. The US shows the most growth, with nearly three-quarters of active channels (1,189) available in this market. Over 178,000 unique programs, films, and episodes are available on FAST channels, with more than 70% of available programming produced since 2010.

CNN and Roku want to thrive in the FAST lane: Both are launching free ad-supported streaming channels to lure price-conscious consumers.

Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels remain niche but numerous. There are around 650 FAST channels in the UK, though only 3% to 4% of consumers have used them in the past three months, per March 2024 Ofcom data. The exception is Amazon鈥檚 Freevee, which 11% have used (albeit Freevee is being migrated into Amazon鈥檚 Prime Video offering).

Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels remain niche but numerous. There are around 650 FAST channels available in the UK, though only 3% to 4% of people in the country use them, per Ofcom. The exception is Amazon鈥檚 Freevee, which is used by 11% (though this service is being merged with Prime Video). Consumers currently see FAST as a niche fallback option, with a huge surge in uptake unlikely.

Companies betting big on sports rights, AVOD, and international hardware ecosystems may need to reassess how they protect margins without sacrificing user experience. Theaters could once again prove resilient in downturns鈥攂ut only if pricing adapts. Discounted tickets, not premium upsells, may be the path to survival.

This means that the largest screen in the home is typically connected to the internet and addressable for advertisers in ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) as well as linear TV channels. Viewers have a wide variety of services to choose from for long-form content. In addition to linear TV, sizable audiences tune in to AVOD and subscription VOD (SVOD) platforms, also known as OTT services.

At the same time, use of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) increased: Gen Zers watched an average of 56 minutes per day in 2023, up from 53 minutes in 2022 and well ahead of all other age cohorts. Video-sharing platforms are the new video viewing destination.

This screen commands the heaviest share of viewer engagement and is addressable via multiple ad channels: linear or live TV spots; ad-supported video-on-demand services such as Netflix, YouTube, and a host of others; and free ad-supported streaming TV (aka FAST channels), including Pluto TV, Tubi, Rakuten, and Roku. Influencers are a key channel for targeting Gen Z.

Growing consumption of ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD)鈥攐n platforms like Netflix and Crave and free ad-supported streaming TV channels like PlutoTV, Roku, and Tubi鈥攈as also increased video ad spend. Click here to view our forecast on Canada digital ad spending by format. Search鈥檚 share of digital will be 42.1% in 2025. It鈥檚 been a decade since search held a larger share than display.

Go deeper: Want more ad supported video-on-demand (AVOD) CPM benchmarking data? PRO+ subscribers have access to Industry KPIs, our collection of more than 400 benchmarks in marketing and retail and ecommerce across a range of industries and countries. PRO+ subscribers also have access to data for more quarters than what is showcased in this report. Hulu鈥檚 ad prices are the most consistent.

Streaming enters the chat: Tubi鈥檚 free stream was a pivotal moment for FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV). While this expanded access, technical delays were a major issue. Fubo had the worst lag, with some viewers seeing the action up to 78 seconds late, according to Phenix, a real-time streaming data provider.

Click here to view our full forecast for US time spent with free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST). FAST still trails more established digital video options by a wide margin. Of the 4:01 per day adults will spend with digital video, nearly 48% will go to sub OTT platforms. Significant additional shares will go to YouTube and social video (TikTok, Instagram Reels, etc.).

Pluto TV viewing hours grew 16% in Q4, proving the resilience of the free, ad-supported streaming model despite broader ad market challenges. TV struggles continue:. TV Media revenues declined 4%, driven by a 4% drop in ad revenues and 7% decline in affiliate and subscription fees as cord-cutting continues to erode the traditional TV business.

Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) services represent the fastest-growing video format, with platforms like Tubi, Roku Channel, and Samsung TV Plus gaining significant traction. The average adult now spends about 19 minutes (0:19) daily with FAST services in the US鈥攏early double the time spent in 2021, according to our January forecast.