Yes, There Are Originals on FAST
One of the biggest myths to dispel around free ad-supported streaming TV is that it consists purely of reruns.
Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav provided a prime example of this during the third-quarter earnings call last year, when he mentioned that classic westerns such as “Rawhide” and “Bonanza” were the type of content best suited to FAST.
While it is true that FAST was built on the bones of reruns and digital shorts from content publishers on YouTube, it’s no longer 2019. FAST as a medium has seen tremendous growth, with Big Media and entertainment companies embracing it with gusto.
With this has come a focus on original content.
There are a number of strategies FAST services and channels are utilizing for original content. Originals come in all shapes and sizes — scripted shows, unscripted shows, news and sports — and some channels have won daytime Emmys (Tastemade and Freevee). Thus, this is not watered-down content made on a cheap budget but rather shows content that can mix it up with the best of cable TV and SVOD.