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 advertisements at no cost to its viewers. The corporate already has an ad-free subscription income mannequin, however now it’s eyeing a brand new sector that provides a standard TV-like viewing expertise. The FAST sector is estimated to develop at an annual charge of 12.67% in 5 years (2025-30). Nevertheless, the corporate shouldn’t be the primary one to enter the market.
Zee5 to Launch FAST Channels
In keeping with 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 variety of content material like motion pictures and collection from varied genres equivalent to comedy, drama, and horror on linked gadgets and sensible TVs. Zee5 dubs it as a strategic transfer that might assist it improve its presence within the linked TV ecosystem, which it claims is rising at an amazing tempo.
What are FAST Channels?
In keeping with Statista, FAST tv service gives a free viewing expertise of content material. The service suppliers earn by way of the promoting income, much like how conventional TV channels earn. It lets individuals entry a number of TV channels which might be made out there to them for gratis in alternate for watching advertisements. 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 an alternative of selecting “particular content material,” customers get to pick out channels they want to see.
The FAST channel service market is estimated to succeed in $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 anticipated to develop at an annual charge 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 shouldn’t be the one participant within the house. The Roku Channel and Plex have already been current available in the market with a considerable presence. In keeping with Plex’s web site, it has over 25 million subscribers globally. Sadly, the corporate doesn’t present country-wise subscriber knowledge.