Catching on FAST: Why Europe Is Embracing Free Advertising-Supported Streaming TV

Is Europe going FAST, but the U.S. going FASTer? FAST, or free advertising-supported streaming television, and AVOD (advertising-based video on demand) services have been a key growth segment in the U.S. at a time when streaming has become a competitive amid a maturing market. Cases in point: Fox Corp.’s Tubi, Paramount Global’s Pluto TV, Amazon’s Freevee, or The Roku Channel.

Meanwhile, in Europe, where traditionally more free TV content has been available, FAST hasn’t made as much noise until recently. And MIPCOM in Cannes could in the coming days feature more talk and news about it. This summer, Tubi launched in the U.K., while Pluto TV struck a strategic commercial and editorial partnership with M6+, French TV company Groupe M6’s new AVOD platform, to “scale and expand their free streaming and digital businesses in France.” Sony Pictures recently launched a 54-channel FAST package in Europe that includes such popular

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