Zee5 has introduced its partnership with Amagi Media Labs to roll out the Free Advert-Supported Streaming Tv (FAST) channels service in India. The corporate mentioned that it’ll launch the FAST channels in August to supply content material with adverts free of charge to its viewers. The corporate already has an ad-free subscription income mannequin, however now it’s eyeing a brand new sector that gives a conventional TV-like viewing expertise. The FAST sector is estimated to develop at an annual price of 12.67% in 5 years (2025-30). Nevertheless, the corporate just isn’t the primary one to enter the market.
Zee5 to Launch FAST Channels
In response to a press launch by Zee5, the streaming platform goes to leverage Amagi Media Labs know-how to launch its vary of FAST channels in India in August. The corporate claims that this transfer will additional strengthen its Linked TV service. Zee5 mentioned that the FAST channels will cowl a spread of content material like motion pictures and collection from varied genres corresponding to comedy, drama, and horror on related units and good TVs. Zee5 dubs it as a strategic transfer that might assist it improve its presence within the related TV ecosystem, which it claims is rising at a fantastic tempo.
What are FAST Channels?
In response to Statista, FAST tv service provides a free viewing expertise of content material. The service suppliers earn by means of the promoting income, just like how conventional TV channels earn. It lets individuals entry a number of TV channels which can be made out there to them for free of charge in trade for watching adverts. Not too long ago, FAST has gained reputation as individuals begin opting to make use of them. To place it in less complicated phrases, FAST and conventional linear TV function equally. Nevertheless, as a substitute of selecting “particular content material,” customers get to pick channels they want to see.
The FAST channel service market is estimated to achieve $194.71 million (about Rs. 1,671 crore) in 2025, as per Statista’s web site. Furthermore, the market income of your entire sector is predicted to develop at an annual price of 12.67% within the subsequent 5 years (2025-30). Within the US alone, the market income in 2025 was about $5.78 billion (about Rs. 49,602 crore). By 2030, the variety of FAST subscribers in India are anticipated to be round 154.3 million.
If one is to contemplate these numbers, Zee5 is coming into the FAST channel service at an opportune time, the place the market is estimated to develop exponentially. However Zee5 just isn’t the one participant within the area. The Roku Channel and Plex have already been current out there with a considerable presence. In response to Plex’s web site, it has over 25 million subscribers globally. Sadly, the corporate doesn’t present country-wise subscriber information.
