FAST Approaching: Ad-Funded Streaming Channels Becoming The Norm In Europe, Claims Rakuten Report – SXSW London
A new report from Rakuten highlights the growing popularity of FAST channels in Europe. The study reveals that a significant majority of viewers consider FAST a primary way to watch TV and expect to increase their usage. This trend indicates a shift towards ad-supported streaming as a mainstream option across various European markets.
- ▪73.7% of viewers watch FAST channels daily or several times a week.
- ▪80.1% consider FAST a main way to watch TV or an alternative to paid streaming services.
- ▪82.3% of viewers are willing to accept advertising on FAST channels.
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| Original publisher | Deadline |
| Canonical URL | https://deadline.com/2026/06/fast-channels-mainstream-rakuten-report-1236930031/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:30:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-03T08:41:59.255Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-03T08:41:59.255Z |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
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Rakuten operates numerous FAST channels akub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images EXCLUSIVE: It’s a FAST world, and we’re just living in it – at least, that’s what a new report from European streamer Rakuten is telling us. Ahead of a presentation at SXSW London today, Rakuten shared insights from its study, The FAST Advantage, which shows that Europeans are taking FAST channels seriously as a mainstream option. Key stats from a survey of 750 European consumers in five major markets include: 73.7% of viewers watch FAST daily or several times a week, 80.1% consider the medium a “main way” to watch TV or an alternative to paid-for streaming services, and 60.7% expect to increase their usage in the future. Only 4.3% said they would reduce their viewing time.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Deadline.
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