The proliferation of free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels is continuing. Data recently complied by Variety indicates that there are over over 1,800 free streaming channels in the United States alone, and the number is only continuing to grow as more customers become fed up with the rising costs of subscription video streaming, not to mention cable.

• New data from Whip Media shows that 78% of audiences are maintaining or increasing the amount of FAST content they watch in 2023.
• Freevee, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi have all increased their audience awareness score in the past year.
• The amount of time spent watching reruns shows why Netflix is so gung-ho to license titles from other media companies.

Are You Watching More FAST Content This Year?

As the amount of FAST content available increases, viewers are changing their habits accordingly. Whip Media released a new report showing that 78% of audiences were spending the same amount or more time watching FAST programming in 2023 as compared to 2022. Only 22% report they watch less FAST content than they did last year.

Perhaps even better from the standpoint of FAST providers, awareness of their services is increasing as well. Freevee, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Tubo are the top free streaming platforms available, and each has seen customer awareness of its service improve significantly in the past two years; each has seen its user awareness percentage jump more than 20 points since 2021.

Even though not all of these customers are using free streaming platforms just because they’re aware of them, the data has to be heartening for these platforms. After all, potential users are a lot easier to turn into actual users for free streaming services, many of which lower the barriers to entry so much that viewers don’t even have to give their email address to start watching.

Related: Best Free Streaming Services ►

Content is Still King

Whip Media’s report also shows which types of content FAST audiences are watching most often. Its numbers show that movies and reruns of old TV shows are continuing to dominate FAST viewing; 71% of respondents to Whip’s survey said they watch movies on their chosen FAST platform, while 65% say they watch reruns.

This data shows why Netflix is working so hard to bring on licensed content, these days. The streamer just paid a handsome licensing fee to acquire the streaming rights to “Young Sheldon,” and has been offering several HBO originals licensed from Warner Bros. Discovery since this summer. Netflix is also in talks with Disney about acquiring some of its content to stream, as well.

The strategy is paying dividends for Netflix. “Suits” has become one of the most popular shows on streaming since Netflix acquired its rights from NBCUniversal this year. The HBO titles have done well for Netflix too, and TV reruns became more popular than ever in 2023 as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes shut down production of new scripted TV for months.

The questions facing FAST services are quite similar to the issues facing paid subscription streamers; most notably, how do they differentiate themselves from competitors in an increasingly crowded marketplace? That’s the next challenge, but FAST platforms can declare victory when it comes to educating customers about their existence and convincing them to watch their content.

Related: 225+ Streaming Services You Can Try for Free ►