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

Streaming Boom Reaches 2021 Crossroads: Can Big Media Really Catch Netflix?

Streaming is continuing to replace other forms of viewing. As pay-TV subscriptions continued to wane in 2020, the number of households subscribing to multiple streaming services reached 61%, up from 4...

'Streaming fatigue' got you down? The 'great re-bundling' could be the answer

And companies are already catching on. Amazon, Apple, and Roku (ROKU) allow consumers to buy individual channels through their platforms that they can pay for through a set billing option and view usi...

Netflix Password Crackdown May Be “A Net Positive In The Long Term,” Analyst Claims

However, research firm Parks Associates, in a report earlier this year, pegged overall losses by streaming services from password sharing at $9.1 billion, projecting that the figure will reach $12.5 b...

Best Video Doorbell Cameras of 2022

These devices are proving to be quite popular, too. It’s estimated that the number of video doorbells sold in the U.S. in 2022 will top 5 million, according to the market research companies Parks Asso...