In our latest Amagi AIRTIME webinar, our expert roundtable dove into Amagi’s Global FAST Report and discussed how the evolving streaming landscape requires an updated content distribution strategy. Amagi’s Siva Natarajan was joined by C15 Studio’s Joe Nilsson, DAZN’s Joe Pickering and Fremantle’s Laura Florence.
Read on for highlights from the discussion, and if you want to watch the full webinar, visit our website.
How does DAZN manage its unified distribution strategy?
Joe Pickering, VP of Business Development at DAZN, outlined the company's comprehensive approach to content distribution by explaining how DAZN operates in over 200 markets. DAZN’s main focus continues to be live sports streaming, and the company has exclusive broadcasting rights to major events like La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, and the NFL in Germany. DAZN, Pickering added, goes beyond streaming and integrates e-commerce, gamification, and betting into its platform to enhance user engagement. As “The Global Home of Sport,'' DAZN has embraced FAST to provide 24/7 live sports experiences globally.
READ: How to monetize Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels
What is Fremantle's approach to content distribution?
Fremantle owns a significant portion of its IP, enabling the company to reformat content globally and maintain direct connections with audiences via social platforms. Laura Florence, Head of Global Channels at Fremantle, added that Fremantle’s major focus is FAST, which explains its strong presence in the ad-supported space with over 25 FAST channels, including well-known brands like The Price Is Right and Baywatch. Fremantle focuses on ensuring content availability across platforms, thus ensuring alignment with marketing campaigns and getting maximum visibility.
How does C15 Studio focus its efforts in the distribution landscape?
Explaining their niche approach towards content distribution, Joe Nilsson, CEO & Co-founder, C15 Studio, explained how the company creates FAST channels exclusively for sports organizations like Formula 1 and the European Tour. Their channels emphasize live sports, catering to the evolving FAST ecosystem. C15 Studio recently launched its fifth channel, the DP World Tour, targeting audiences in North America and the UK. This hyper-focused model allows C15 Studio to excel in delivering value for rights holders through free, ad-supported reach.
READ: How to launch a FAST channel
What are the central strategies behind diversified distribution footprints?
Diversification is key to maximizing revenue, reaching audiences, and enhancing discovery. Panelists agreed that offering content across multiple channels taps into varied revenue streams, from ads to subscriptions. Given today’s fragmented landscape, meeting audiences where they are — whether through FAST, SVOD, or linear — is critical. Additionally, ensuring visibility across platforms helps overcome challenges in content discovery.
What are the challenges in monetizing FAST platforms?
Monetization remains a hurdle for FAST, primarily due to ad restrictions and limitations in brand integration. “While platforms like YouTube and creators like Mr. Beast have demonstrated high profitability from low budgets, FAST still requires more robust tools to fully realize its potential,” added Florence. FAST channels can better support new content launches as these tools improve and achieve more competitive monetization.
READ: How to maximize monetization and scale streaming revenue
What opportunities do automation and AI bring to the FAST ecosystem?
All panelists agreed that automation and AI are integral to FAST's future. The industry is transitioning from Phase 2.0 — a streaming-like personalization (e.g., picture-in-picture, interactive overlays) — to Phase 3.0, which will focus on automation and AI. AI planning tools automatically schedule programming based on business rules, improving efficiency. In the future, integrating captions, localization, and seamless global scaling will further enhance FAST offerings, making them more competitive and consumer-friendly.
Want to learn more?
- Watch the full webinar here
- Read our latest Global FAST Report here
- View our full webinar series here
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