Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

Competitive Info: FAST Channels Gain As Traditional TV Declines, Parks Finds.

Traditional television continues to lose viewers to free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services, according to new research from Parks Associates.

The research firm’s quarterly surveys of 8,000 U.S. internet households found that 46% of U.S. internet households regularly use FAST platforms to watch long-form video content.

“FAST services are no longer a secondary viewing option — they are a central part of the streaming landscape,” said Michael Goodman, director of entertainment research at Parks Associates. “The gap between leaders like Tubi and the rest of the market underscores the importance of content breadth, distribution partnerships, and user experience in driving viewer engagement.”

A new study released Wednesday by Parks Associates identified Tubi, The Roku Channel and Pluto TV as the top three FAST services in the U.S. Research compiled through the company’s Streaming Video Tracker found that Tubi “significantly outpaced competitors and reinforced its dominant position in the rapidly expanding FAST ecosystem.”

Parks Associates noted that Tubi has achieved that position even though 95% of its programming is available on demand through its ad-supported video-on-demand model.

The report said the growth of FAST services reflects a broader industry shift as consumers increasingly seek free, ad-supported alternatives amid rising subscription costs and streaming fatigue.

Other FAST platforms showing audience growth include Samsung TV Plus and XUMO Play, according to Parks’ latest rankings.

Parks Associates said advertisers are increasingly following audiences into FAST environments, positioning the sector for continued expansion through 2026 and beyond.

From the Inside Radio article, "Competitive Info: FAST Channels Gain As Traditional TV Declines, Parks Finds."

Previously In The News

Smart TVs Join The In-Home Digital Voice Race

The home entertainment market is consolidating around the smart TV, with the TV now being the most commonly used platform for accessing video content, according to Parks Associates. Consumers are b...

Ad Age @ CES: 5 Things We Learned About the Connected Home

Historically, insurance companies' main relationship with consumers has been reminding them to pay their bills or coming to the rescue when something bad happens. Smart homes present those companies w...

How WWE Raw Turned the Brand Into a Global Entertainment Company

The WWE Network, the streaming service that shows WWE playoff matches and original programming, is presently the No. 2 sports OTT service, behind only MLB.tv, according to Parks Associates. Baker expl...

13% of Broadband Households Adopt Smart Thermostats

The adoption of smart thermostats reached 13% of U.S. broadband households in 2017, according to new research. This is an increase from 11% in 2016, based on new smart energy research from Parks As...