Plex continues its FAST expansion, launching 92 new channels worldwide in July. These include various news channels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, France, and Germany.
New 24/7 single-series channels, including Weeds, Designated Survivor, Nash Bridges, and Prime Suspect, are now available for free. Major networks such as CW Gold and CW Forever are also featured, enhancing the platform’s diverse content library.
Significant Growth in 2024
In the first seven months of 2024, Plex launched over 300 channels, aiming to become the ultimate destination for streaming content. Plex allows users to watch, rate, and discuss their favorite shows and movies. Combining free TV with AVOD, Plex reaches over 23 million monthly active users globally, offering the most widely available ad-supported video-on-demand and live TV in over 195 countries. This extensive reach and diverse content library position Plex as dominant in the streaming landscape.
Plex, already recognized as a leader in FAST and AVOD, now boasts the most extensive FAST channel lineup globally, with over 800 channels in the U.S. and nearly 1,200 worldwide, available in over 195 countries.
Enhanced Global Reach
Brazil, Spain, and Latin America each gained over ten new channels among the newly launched channels. Australia and New Zealand welcomed Project Runway. Canada now streams The Price is Right with Drew Carey and new channels from Bell Media, featuring original programming from CTV News and TSN The Ocho.
Expanded Sports Coverage
The first half of 2024 saw a significant increase in sports channels on Plex, including FIFA+, NFL Channel, MLB, T2, Cricket Gold, The World Poker Tour, CBS Sports HQ, Golazo, BeIN Australia, and B/R Sports Network. This expansion reflects Plex’s commitment to offering a wide variety of content that appeals to global audiences.
The FAST Channel Market Landscape
As the FAST channel sector matures, its growth rate in the U.S. has slowed. However, the market remains vibrant, with a recent report identifying 1,943 unique FAST channels, an increase of 13% from May 2023 and 47% from May 2022. General entertainment remains the dominant category, with 1,092 channels.
Despite the entry of major media players like Warner Bros. Discovery into the FAST space, channels such as Court TV, Forensic Files, Game Show Central, Heartland, LOL! Network and Unsolved Mysteries have the widest distribution, available on 13 platforms. The popularity of movie channels continues to rise, with a 50% year-over-year growth, emphasizing their importance to consumers.
The Question: Is There Such a Thing as Too Many FAST Channels?
As the number of FAST channels grows, it’s worth considering whether there can be too many options. In our view, the answer is no—and here’s why.
Much like Netflix, which offers 3,000 to 4,000 titles but only presents a portion of those at any given time, personalization is the key to managing an extensive library of channels. Suppose FAST services can effectively surface a subset of channels tailored to each viewer’s preferences. In that case, they can avoid overwhelming users. The bottom line is that it’s about reducing the clicks it takes to get to video playback.
Think about Netflix again: who’s to say that what’s behind a thumbnail is a video-on-demand title or a channel? The line between these formats is blurring, and that’s why the real question isn’t about the number of channels—it’s about how the user experience can evolve. FAST services must move beyond traditional electronic programming grids and embrace more intuitive, personalized interfaces that make content discovery seamless and enjoyable.
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