FAST Channel Development
FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) is linear television reborn for streaming — 24/7 scheduled channels, free to watch, monetized with ad breaks, distributed on platforms like Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Roku, and Pluto. Building FAST is unlike VOD: you need a scheduling and playout system that runs a continuous channel from a content library, server-side ad insertion into live ad breaks, and a signal that never goes dark.
Apexnova builds custom FAST channel platforms you own outright — 24/7 linear playout, EPG, server-side ad insertion, and distribution-ready feeds — production-ready in 30 days, with infrastructure tuned to run channels continuously while cutting delivery cost by up to 95%.
What a FAST channel actually needs
Linear playout and scheduling. A cloud playout engine that assembles a 24/7 channel from your library — scheduled programming, loops, day-parting, and live-to-VOD — running continuously with no dead air. This is the core of FAST and what separates it from on-demand.
Server-side ad insertion into live breaks. Dynamic ad breaks stitched into the linear stream server-side, so ads render on every device (including TVs), survive ad-blockers, and fill against programmatic and direct demand via VAST/VMAP.
EPG and channel metadata. An electronic program guide and the metadata feeds that FAST platforms require to list your channel and its schedule — the difference between a stream and a channel viewers can browse.
Distribution-ready output. Feeds formatted for aggregators and platforms — Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Roku, Amazon, Pluto — plus your own owned-and-operated apps on web, mobile, and connected TV.
FAST vs AVOD vs SVOD — where FAST fits
FAST is linear and ad-supported; AVOD is on-demand and ad-supported; SVOD is subscription. The strongest content businesses run FAST channels to drive reach and ad revenue, then convert engaged viewers into on-demand AVOD or SVOD. We build the playout and ad stack to support all three.
| Model | Format | Monetization |
|---|---|---|
| FAST | 24/7 linear channels | Ads in live breaks (SSAI) |
| AVOD | On-demand catalog | Ads on individual titles |
| SVOD | On-demand catalog | Recurring subscription |
| Hybrid | Linear + on-demand | Ads + subscriptions together |
What you get
A production-ready FAST platform — cloud playout and scheduling, EPG, server-side ad insertion with VAST/VMAP, distribution-ready feeds for FAST aggregators, and your own apps across web, mobile, and connected TV. Plus AI-powered analytics for concurrent viewers, ad fill, completion, and channel performance. Your channels, your ad relationships, your infrastructure — no revenue share.
Why Apexnova for FAST
- Real linear playout. A channel that runs 24/7 from your library, not a looped VOD file — scheduling, day-parting, and live-to-VOD built in.
- Ads that fill on TV. Server-side ad insertion into live breaks, which is where FAST revenue actually comes from.
- Distribution-ready. Feeds and metadata formatted for Samsung, LG, Roku, and Pluto — plus your own owned apps.
- 30-day delivery, 20+ platforms shipped. Proven playout and ad-insertion architecture, at up to 95% lower delivery cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is FAST channel development?
FAST channel development is building free ad-supported streaming TV — 24/7 linear channels monetized with ad breaks and distributed on platforms like Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, and Roku. It requires cloud playout, an EPG, and server-side ad insertion. Apexnova builds custom FAST platforms production-ready in 30 days.
How is FAST different from AVOD?
FAST is linear — 24/7 scheduled channels a viewer tunes into — while AVOD is on-demand, where viewers pick individual titles. Both are ad-supported, but FAST needs a continuous playout and scheduling engine, whereas AVOD serves discrete videos. Many platforms run both.
Can you get my channel onto Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, or Roku?
We build distribution-ready feeds and EPG metadata formatted to the specs FAST aggregators require, so your channel can be onboarded to platforms like Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Roku, and Pluto, alongside your own owned-and-operated apps.
How do ads work on a FAST channel?
We build server-side ad insertion (SSAI) that stitches dynamic ad breaks into the live linear stream, so ads render on every device including TVs, survive ad-blockers, and fill against programmatic and direct demand via VAST/VMAP.
Launch your FAST channel
Tell us your library, how many channels you want to run, and your target FAST platforms, and we'll return a fixed-scope quote with a 30-day plan and a 24/7 playout cost projection — so you launch a channel, not a looping file.