The benefits of building your own TV streaming platform

In recent years, Over-The-Top (OTT) TV streaming platforms have taken the world by storm – from streaming services to gaming sites, these platforms have revolutionized the way we consume content and entertainment. But OTT isn’t just changing the way we absorb media, it’s also transforming the business landscape.

With the current number of digital streaming platforms, it might initially seem like a no-brainer to host your content on a third-party site. There is however an alternative streaming service – your own!

What is FAST?

Free Ad-supported Television (FAST) is freely accessible and viewable content funded by ads, meaning viewers can watch live and on-demand content without having to pay for a cable package or streaming service. To audiences, FAST channels are almost indistinguishable from traditional linear TV, but instead of being broadcast, all the content is streamed.

FAST commands a higher CPM than traditional cable channels. Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) provides viewers with targeted and relevant advertising that can't be skipped, meaning a greater potential earning for every hour of content watched.

Why create your own service?

Take control of your content

We’ve reached a saturation point in the streaming market, making it easy for your content to become lost on a third-party site. A content provider is seldom likely to spend money pushing third-party content, particularly if it’s niche, meaning you will be responsible for driving traffic – your viewers, your followers – to an external platform, where audiences will have to sift through rails of content to view your channel.

By creating your own platform, however, you're free to spend your marketing budget pushing viewers to your own app, where your content sits front and center.

No hidden costs

Pitching your content to a subscription-based streaming platform can be pricy, with many distributors charging at least $1,000 to get your content on any one site. Then there’s the additional fees to consider, including nominal pitching fees or standing annual charges.

Similarly, some free streaming services will also charge you to host your content, which is often priced per viewer. This can make it near impossible to budget for, particularly when first launching.

By choosing to create a streaming platform with FAST Channels TV, you can eliminate spiraling costs. We offer our technology and channels for free on a revenue share model, unlike other providers who will ask for upfront fees and huge monthly minimums, meaning you can launch your app at minimal cost, and if you don’t succeed, we don't succeed.

Collect and manage your own data

Have you done your research? Do you know your audience? How many viewers your content is reaching? How long they spend viewing your content? What devices are they using?

When using a third-party online streaming platform, you don't always have full access to user data. A gap in analytics mean you lack the full transparency you would otherwise have by owning a digital streaming platform, and you end up being restricted by what the third-party software decides to make available to you.

Creating your own service grants you ownership of user generated data. Gain valuable insight into your audience's behavior, interactions, and viewing habits, utilizing these metrics to refine your content strategy, inform decision-making, content optimization, and targeted marketing, and deliver personalized experiences.

With data analytics being the main driver behind many business decisions these days, it suffices to say that having access to full user data can make or break your business and set you apart from competitors who use third person streaming platforms.

Further monetization

You can further monetize your content by not only launching your own TV streaming service, but by making your content available on other free, ad-based platforms too, including traditional subscription service partners that are willing to pay you license fees. It is not a case of always using an ad-based model, you will want to monetize your content in any way possible, in whatever way make you the greatest return.

How we can help

There are two things we look for; do you have compelling content that separates you from everyone else and do you have a ready-build audience, either on social media or as part of an existing base of users, you can expose your new free TV streaming service to? If the answer is “yes”, there is a huge opportunity for growth within the FAST space.

At FAST Channels, we recognize the real value of TV isn't in the technology. It isn't in just the content, or even the marketing, while important, the true valuation is in your viewership and if you give that away you will never be able to pull them back.

We can help you to create and deploy a branded platform in under a month, giving you the tools to develop, market and monetize your video content effectively to your ready-made fan base.

Our latest partnerships

TrueTVplus https://www.truetvplus.com/ , a trailblazer in the FAST industry, is redefining the streaming landscape with the launch of its free ad-supported consumer apps. This bold move empowers content owners to thrive in an ever-evolving market, providing them with the tools to reach audiences directly.

Over the past two years, TrueTVplus has set a high standard, successfully creating, launching, and monetizing 20 FAST linear channels. These channels are now available on over 40 TV streaming platforms, driving significant ad revenue growth. Donald Shafer, co-founder of TrueTVplus and a veteran industry expert, expressed appreciation for their partnerships with TV streaming platforms and emphasized the importance of expanding their reach. "While we deeply value our collaborations with TV streaming platforms, it's time to offer our content directly to our audience," Shafer stated. "Additionally, we're excited to help other content owners launch their own FAST linear channels and AVOD, making it easier for them to capitalize on this thriving market."

TrueTVplus remains at the forefront of the FAST market, offering a comprehensive suite of services that enable content owners to create, launch, and monetize their channels. With a vast distribution network and a team of seasoned professionals, TrueTVplus is dedicated to empowering content owners in the dynamic streaming television industry. For more information, visit https://www.truetvplus.com/  or email us at contact@truetvplus.com.

In a parallel narrative, NOMADslow.TV, a leading content creator in the slow living space with a devoted social media following of 20,000 meditation and relaxation enthusiasts, has masterfully developed a monetization strategy that combines ad-based and subscription content. Recognizing the need for targeted marketing to drive followers toward third-party TV streaming platforms, NOMADslow.TV took a strategic leap by launching their own streaming platform using TrueTVplus's white label solution.

This innovative platform not only highlights their unique content portfolio but also enhances the viewer experience by integrating additional FAST linear and VOD content. The curated selection ensures their audience can enjoy a diverse range of entertainment, from news and sports to movies and more.

For an exhaustive catalogue of these and other groundbreaking ad-based TV streaming platforms, we invite you to explore our partnership roster, easily accessible at fastchannels.tv/where-to-watch

With our sophisticated white-label platform and FAST playout generation services, along with our 2,000+ AVOD titles and 200 FAST linear channels, launching a successful streaming service has never been easier. FAST Channels TV continues to bring advanced, flexible solutions to the market to give content owners and operators the power and confidence to leverage the value of their existing content library, build a global audience, maximize monetization, expand channel lineups, and onboard new partners.

About FAST Channels TV:

Revolutionize Your TV Experience with FAST Channels TV

Empower your content ownership journey with FAST Channels TV, your premier destination for launching cutting-edge FAST linear channels. Our state-of-the-art white-label platforms and channel playout generation services are tailored for broadcasters, operators, and content owners, enabling swift deployment and seamless monetization of your channels.

For inquiries about launching a FAST channel or adding some or all of our channels to your platform, contact FAST Channels TV at info@fastchannels.tv  or visit https://www.fastchannels.tv/