New York, NY, January 30th, 2025 – With the FAST business expected to reach $12 billion by 2027, the 2024 year-end report from VideoElephant, produced by Hub Entertainment Research, confirms the value of FAST to advertisers. FAST Channels effectively reach advertiser-friendly targets with content they seek..
Of the millions of FAST viewers in the U.S., 72% of those surveyed say that FAST delivers good or excellent value – more than any other kind of platform. And as target consumers and habitual video watchers, these users represent desirable advertiser-friendly demos, says the report:
39% are under 35
36% have kids in the household
51% watch 20+ hours each week
80% have three or more streaming subscription
And while one of the ostensible advantages of subscription streaming services has been the absence of advertising, nearly half (44%) of FAST users say the ad load on FAST is reasonable, and fewer than a quarter say it’s not. In fact:
Nearly 40% said the ad experience is better on FAST than on other platforms
Nearly one-third (29%) said they pay attention to all or most of the ads that play during the FAST shows they watch
59% said they are most likely to pay attention to those ads that are personally relevant to them
38% said they are more likely to pay attention to ads that match the type of show they are watching
Says VideoElephant Chief Commercial Officer Brian Cullinane, “The FAST phenomenon represents a significant shift in how content and ads are consumed. This free platform is challenging paid viewing with a wide range of programming alternatives at no cost – fertile ground for advertisers who have access to millions of new eyeballs and the data they have come to rely upon.”
“We are all watching FAST become a force, a prime alternative to increasingly expensive subscription streamers, enabling viewers to see whatever they want whenever they want to for free, and allowing advertisers to reach an engaged audience with the viewer data they have come to rely upon,” adds Hub Research Principal Jonathan Giegengack,
VideoElephant has three FAST channels of its own, Beyond Paranormal, Travel Escapes and Real Crime Uncovered, which, taken together, saw 45% average MOM growth in HOVs during 2024.
About the VideoElephant 2024 Year-End Video Report: Data from over 10,000 US Video Consumers is culled from three unique surveys in 2024 by Hub Entertainment Research. Respondents were men and women, evenly distributed in age and geography.
About Video Elephant:
VideoElephant provides businesses and brands worldwide with the content, expertise and technology needed to drive success across streaming platforms, online media and digital screens via single VOD assets, feeds, playlists and FAST channels. Building on its legacy as the world’s largest library of premium, brand-safe, rights-cleared video, the company offers sourcing, licensing, curation, monetization and distribution solutions as well as access to billions of impressions and millions of viewers around the world. Leveraging VideoElephant, producers, publishers and advertisers can scale their video strategy while growing audiences and revenue. The company was founded in 2012 and has offices in Dublin, New York and Los Angeles. For more information, visit https://videoelephant.com/.
About Hub Entertainment Research
Since 2013, Hub Entertainment Research has measured and tracked how technology changes the ways consumers discover, choose and consume entertainment content. We work with the largest networks, pay TV operators, streaming providers, and studios. For more information, visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter at hubintel.substack.com.
