FAST Channel Programming: How to Build Smarter Blocks and Reduce Fallback Slate

FAST channels are growing faster than the workflows many teams use to program them. Nielsen’s Gracenote analysis counted nearly 1,850 active FAST channels globally in 2025, with channel count up 76% since 2023. Comscore also reported that hours watched across major free ad-supported streaming services grew 43% year over year. That growth creates a new operational reality for programming teams. Viewers expect FAST channels to feel as polished as traditional television, with content that flows cle