FASTMaster's PAST Overview for April 2024
Who's doing PAST and how is it integrated within the SVOD?
PAST is getting attention.
The report that Disney is looking to add streaming channels to Disney+ saw analysts everywhere declare how this was a great idea and one they’d long predicted (btw if you saw anything saying Disney was adding FAST channels to Disney+, well, wouldn’t go back there for information as these channels won’t be free and thus are not FAST), but various people in the industry have told me over the last few months that PAST conversation has been increasing.
In other words, expect more PAST over the next few months.
Yet aside from making predictions that SVOD services should add channels, it seems that few analysts have actually taken a sweep of the PAST landscape. The last one I did published in October at Variety VIP+, so it’s time for a refresh of who already is in the market.
AMC+ has one premium channel behind the paywall (called AMC+) and linear feeds of its cable networks.
Peacock
Peacock is at the crucible of innovation when it comes to linear channels. 31 channels are free to anyone who ever had a login to the service, regardless of whether they are a current subscriber or not. These are all scheduled within a channel guide, with most being traditional FAST but a minority FASTVOD, which is when the show automatically starts from the beginning no matter when it is joined during the schedule.
This relationship flips when it comes to PAST. There is just one true PAST channel on Peacock, Decision 2024, and 42 PASTVOD channels (of course to the viewer, these all appear as channels, it’s only for us industry-heads that I am making the distinction). These channels tend to be sourced from the NBCUniversal content library, with notable channels being added in April for Spider-Man (the first three movies on a loop) and Here Comes the Bride (Bridesmaids and Bride Wars on a loop).
Paramount+
This SVOD has featured a blend of FAST and PAST channels for several years, with additional channels for featured sports also popping up whenever there’s a live game. Interestingly, Paramount+ has dropped its feed for Dabl since the network changed its content to be nothing but Black 90s sitcoms.
The FAST channels included are those operated by CBS (MTV Entertainment and Pluto TV also operate FAST channels within the greater Paramount ecosystem). Premium channels also draw upon available library at Paramount, with channels for Survivor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, SpongeBob Universe and Star Trek sitting alongside genre-curated channels like 90s Sitcoms, Black Voices, Crime & Justice and History & Undiscovered.
Roku Channel
This month Roku incorporated linear feeds for SVOD services within its EPG for Roku Channel, with 31 channels available. These can only be watched if one subscribes to the SVOD, but each channel is linearly scheduled. What’s worth noting is (1) there are many niche SVODs with FAST upsell channels also offering Premium channels within Roku (such as MagellanTV, Dove Channel, Hi-Yah! and Demand Africa) and (2) there’s potential for more FAST channels from services currently offering only premium linear. Here’s the full list of the SVOD channels included within Roku Channel in April:
Vix Premium
A&E Crime Central
History Vault
Cinemax
Allblk
Fox Nation
Great American Pure Flix
Kocowa
The Great Courses Signature Collection
BBC Select
MHz Choice
viaplay
Curiosity Stream
Hidive
OutTV
MagellanTV
Dove Channel
True Royalty
Hi-Yah!
Demand Africa
MGM+
AcornTV
Up Faith & Family
AMC+
Hallmark Movies Now
BritBox
BET+
Starz
Discovery+
Paramount+
Paramount+ 2