Monetisation

FAST channel economics: revenue, CPMs, and how to build a viable FAST business in India

Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) is one of the fastest-growing segments in global CTV. The model is simple: viewers get free linear-style channels; advertisers get a captive audience in a known content context; publishers get ad revenue without needing to charge subscriptions. In the US, platforms like Pluto TV and Tubi have proven the model at scale. In India, FAST is still early but the structural conditions — low subscription willingness, large free-to-air habit, growing smart TV penetration — make it a credible growth path.

This hub covers the full FAST economics picture: how revenue is generated, what CPMs to expect in India, how fill rate affects the bottom line, and what a content and distribution strategy should look like for a FAST channel targeting Indian audiences.

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