Fremantle sees itself as a global FAST player, with services complementing its existing business model.
Speaking in a Q&A at OTT Question Time Live in London, Valerio Motti, VP FAST Channels at Fremantle, added that it currently operates over 12 such channels on more than 10 platforms, some of which are the largest, in the US. Outside Europe, it operates 15-20 channels in Australia, the UK, LATAM and Italy.
Motti said that the US has by far the most developed FAST market in the world, with some platforms reporting revenues of over $1 billion from such services. Elsewhere, the UK is the most developed, with Germany catching up very quickly, while Canada and Australia are “extremely interesting” and he is “positive” about Italy, France and Spain.
Motti also said that although FAST channels work very well in Mexico and Brazil, Fremantle is “not quite there with monetisation”.
FAST is a relevant source of income for Fremantle and constitutes a business unit at the company. The “five pillars” of its FAST operation are great content, curation, marketing, data and advertising.