As the FAST market matures, the focus is shifting from launching channels to building profitable, sustainable streaming businesses. Jon Cohen, chief revenue officer at Frequency, believes innovative advertising formats, including in-scene ads, can create new revenue opportunities while improving the viewer experience. Rather than interrupting programming with traditional commercial breaks, these integrated ad experiences offer brands new ways to connect with audiences while helping content owners increase monetization and reduce unfilled ad inventory.
Artificial intelligence is also playing a growing role in streamlining channel operations. Cohen explains that Frequency is using AI to simplify programming, scheduling, and optimization rather than attempting to replace every workflow. By combining AI-powered scheduling with an open architecture that integrates with other specialized tools, content providers can build more efficient operations while maintaining flexibility. He also emphasizes that strong distribution, high-quality channel programming, and operational efficiency will remain essential as FAST channels compete for audiences across an increasingly crowded streaming landscape.