International Broadener: Fremantle Launches 19 FAST Channels in Seven European Regions
Fremantle, a leading television production and content distribution company, has announced a significant expansion of its digital presence through a partnership with Samsung TV Plus. The collaboration will see the launch of 19 new FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels across seven territories, marking a significant step in Fremantle’s global digital growth strategy.
The territories included in this launch are the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. This marks the first rollout of Fremantle FAST channels in Ireland. The scale of the launch, with 19 channels, emphasizes Fremantle’s aggressive push into the FAST market globally through Samsung TV Plus.
Samsung TV Plus, a platform that provides free streaming channels to audiences in multiple countries, is facilitating these launches, leveraging its broad user base and distribution capabilities in FAST streaming. This expansion aligns with Fremantle's broader efforts to monetize and distribute content through FAST platforms, as also evidenced by partnerships with other platforms like Pluto TV, which has launched 25 Fremantle channels in 13 countries.
The new channels will feature popular titles such as Family Feud Steve Harvey, Escape to the Country, Project Runway, and The Jamie Oliver Channel. The Jamie Oliver Channel is slated to premiere across the Nordics on Samsung TV Plus EMEA later this summer. Project Runway will be available in the Netherlands and Nordic countries.
In addition to the channel launches, the partnership also includes industry briefings. Topics covered in these briefings include trends in micro-dramas, mobile-first storytelling, and YouTube’s expansion in the SVOD market. One of the briefings is titled "Watch Time Wars: YouTube’s Expansion and Strategic Implications for SVOD". Another briefing is "Micro-Dramas & Mobile-First Storytelling: Who's Creating, Who's Buying?".
Laura Florence, SVP Global Channels at Fremantle, has stated that this is a significant step in the continued global expansion of Fremantle's Global Channels unit. Fremantle operates a vast international network and continues to innovate in digital and streaming platforms. The website used by Fremantle for this collaboration provides reviews of global Film & TV projects, partners, and deals, as well as industry briefings.
This initiative reflects growing industry trends where traditional content producers like Fremantle increasingly collaborate with major streaming platforms to launch multiple branded FAST channels, delivering curated linear programming free to viewers and supported by advertising revenues.
As part of this launch, the Family Feud Steve Harvey channel is making its international debut outside North America as part of this launch. The website also includes a "Global TV+Film Productions Review - August" briefing, providing insights into ongoing projects and deals within the industry. This partnership between Fremantle and Samsung TV Plus is set to strengthen Fremantle's position as a global leader in television production and content distribution.
Entertainment and movies-and-tv industries are collaborating as Fremantle, a leading television production and content distribution company, expands its digital presence through a partnership with Samsung TV Plus. This expansion, which includes the launch of 19 new FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels across seven territories, signifies Fremantle's aggressive push into the FAST market globally.
