Anna Carugati of World Screen was the moderator and panelists included Amanda Stevens, VP of Global Digital Partnerships at All3Media International; Beth Anderson, SVP & general manager of FAST Channels and VOD Sales at BBC Studios; and Graham Haigh, EVP of Global Digital Partnerships at ITV Studios
The second edition of the FAST Festival kicked off with the Scaling Opportunities panel. Panelists included Beth Anderson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FAST Channels and VOD Sales at BBC Studios; Graham Haigh, Executive Vice President of Global Digital Partnerships at ITV Studios; and Amanda Stevens, Vice President of Global Digital Partnerships at All3Media International. Anna Carugati of World Screen moderated the panel.
When asked about the motivation behind ITV Studios’ entry into the FAST space, Haigh explained that it presented an opportunity to generate additional revenue and reach new audiences for their extensive catalog of over 90,000 hours of content.
Anderson from BBC Studios, which boasts 14 channels featuring unique, multi-genre intellectual property, stated, “Generating revenue is always a compelling reason to enter a new market. We view the FAST business as an opportunity to expand and cultivate our brands.”
All3 Media’s Stevens stated that AVOD and FAST platforms provide an opportunity to monetize content for producers throughout its entire lifecycle. He added that they collaborate closely with their International Sales team. “AVOD and FAST will never replace traditional paid deals, but they present an additional revenue stream.”
Stevens observed that All3Media International offers a variety of channels, ranging from single IP to multi-genre offerings. He highlighted their Midsomer Murders channel as a game-changer. “It’s by far our largest FAST channel. It’s the ideal FAST property because it’s long-running, providing us with hundreds of hours of content and the ability to refresh the channel continually,” he explained.
Anderson emphasized that the FAST space isn’t about building a brand from scratch. “FAST doesn’t compete with other business models, but it’s also not a standalone venture. It’s part of a broader media ecosystem. Brands thrive with a diversified distribution strategy that ensures content is accessible across multiple platforms.”
Haigh noted that FAST remains a challenge for serialized and scripted content. “It’s difficult to optimize these formats for FAST due to limitations in programming and scheduling visibility for viewers. However, when content can be housed under a single brand, it mitigates some of these challenges.”
The panelists also discussed content windowing. While Stevens and Haigh agreed that FAST wouldn’t be the primary platform for their content, Anderson from BBC Studios offered a different perspective. He explained that FAST provides a space to experiment with new content directly from the UK. “In some cases, it’s the primary destination for our cooking, home, and children’s shows,” he noted.
Anderson added that the global premiere of The Mallorca Files’ third season is set for August 8th. “Amazon has secured the global licensing rights, primarily focusing on an AVOD strategy for this IP. We’ve adopted this approach previously with Roku and We Are Not Alone. We view these platforms as prime opportunities for audience engagement, especially when they offer both FAST and AVOD options. This dual approach creates an exciting first-window opportunity for certain IPs,” he explained.
Another topic of discussion was metrics and analytics. The panelists agreed that these metrics are currently inconsistent across platforms and lack full transparency.
Anderson explained that the lack of consensus on metrics is understandable given the industry’s current developmental stage. “We’re all building the plane while flying it,” he said. “It’s crucial to identify key performance indicators. Revenue is essential, but viewer engagement, measured by time spent on content, is equally valuable. With over 1,900 live FAST channels in the U.S., the focus shouldn’t be on short-term viewership peaks. Instead, we should prioritize consistency, sustainability, and building a strong channel identity to foster long-term audience loyalty. This approach creates a richer viewing experience and allows for more opportunities to introduce new content.”
