OEM FASTs make sense strategically…control the interface, control the session. But from a content and marketing perspective, are they just adding noise? Each platform is layering in exclusives and curated zones, but do viewers actually notice or care? How does this play out long-term?
— SVP, Programming & Partnerships, Global Consumer Electronics Brand
Yes, every TV manufacturer needs a FAST service. Not because viewers are begging for one, but because the interface is now the front door of the TV, and if you don’t own the welcome mat, someone else will. OEMs can’t afford to just be hardware anymore. The OS is the product. And FAST is the most visible way to claim it.
But that leads to the bigger question: Does any of it matter to the viewer?
OEMs know they need to differentiate. And many are trying. They’re launching exclusives, building curated hubs, expanding off-platform, even crafting brand narratives around “free TV for everyone.” On paper, the strategy tracks.
But in practice? Most of these services still feel like placeholders. They’re the autoplay filler when the HDMI port doesn’t load fast enough. Roku can be seen as an exception, The Roku Channel actually has brand heat, name recognition, and a consistent editorial voice. It’s one of the few FAST brands people actually seek out on purpose.
Most still struggle to break through. Viewers aren’t seeking these services out by name, and outside of their native device, they’re barely on the radar. And that’s not a knock per se. They serve their purpose. But most of the usage is tied to wherever the service happens to be pre-installed. Once you leave that room, or that brand, the relationship ends.
That’s the loyalty problem.
Many OEM FASTs technically exist beyond their own TVs, but they’re rarely used that way.And that’s a huge limitation in a multi-TV, multi-brand household. One screen has Samsung TV Plus. Another’s running a Roku stick. A third might default to Google TV. If your FAST service can’t travel across rooms, you’re not building a brand. You’re building a local utility.
And that brings us to another myth worth killing: that the problem is “too many channels.” It’s not. There’s no such thing as too much content, ask Netflix, YouTube, TikTok. The issue is presentation. If I only see the 20–40 channels relevant to me, it doesn’t matter if there are 4,000 behind the scenes. But if the interface is a generic grid of syndicated noise with no voice, no logic, and no curation, I’m out.
Most OEM FASTs are still thinking like they’re building lineups. What they need to be building are experiences. Contextual, adaptive, visually merchandised environments that say something. The interface should feel like it’s been programmed—because it has.
So you’re In the Grid. Now What?
If you’re a content owner, this OEM FAST land grab is both a gift and a trap.
The gift? Shelf space is exploding. Every new FAST platform needs inventory, especially “safe,” bingeable, linear-friendly stuff that pads out the grid. That means more license deals, more exposure, and more distribution options for libraries that aren’t driving subs on their own DTC platforms.
But here’s the trap: most FAST environments devalue the brand. You’re a tile in someone else’s UX. A background feed in a carousel of sameness. Even if your channel is “exclusive,” it’s probably wedged between five others with the same reruns and two Pluto clones with different logos.
If you’re going to play in OEM FAST, you better have a packaging strategy. That means custom versions of your content tuned to the platform’s tone. Clear channel branding that stands out in a sea of tiles. And a marketing engine that drives users to your presence, not just hopes they stumble across it during autoplay.
Also: know your leverage. If your IP actually moves the needle, push for placement. Push for brand integration. Push for co-marketing. Don’t just feed the beast, get credit on the menu.
Easier said than done, sure. But as my father used to say, “Don’t bring the steak and let someone else take the order.” If your content’s carrying the value, make damn sure your name’s on the check.
And above all, know what you’re trading. FAST can extend your reach. But if you’re not building relationships with those viewers, if they don’t even know they’re watching your stuff, you’re not building a brand. You’re just filling time.
Skip Says
OEM FASTs are necessary, but often forgettable.
Brand-building means more than showing up. It means being missed when you’re gone.
Content owners: FAST is free shelf space, but it’s also rented attention.
If you’re going to play the game, don’t just be content, be a brand.
Ask Me Anything
Whether you’re fed up, fired up, or just want the truth behind the trends, send me your questions using this form. Anonymity guaranteed. Bullshit not included.
