TV Channel
Guides

How to build and maintain a 24/7 FAST channel schedule — the difference between a programming grid and a playout schedule, scheduling strategies, handling gaps, and what happens when content runs short.

How to take an existing YouTube content library and turn it into a 24/7 linear FAST channel — rights considerations, download and transcoding workflows, what YouTube content qualifies, and how to build a schedule from your catalog.

When FAST channels need DRM, what DRM systems exist for HLS streams (Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady), what the tradeoffs are, and why most independent FAST operators don't need it at launch.

How Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) work for FAST channels — the XMLTV format, what data TV platforms require, how EPGs are generated from your schedule, and how to improve your EPG metadata for better discovery.

The key metrics for FAST channel operators — concurrent viewers, average watch time, ad impressions, fill rates, CPMs, and how to use analytics to make programming and scheduling decisions.

The exact image specifications required for Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, and other FAST platforms — channel logos, banners, poster art, and episode thumbnails with pixel dimensions, file sizes, and design best practices.

What content works for FAST channels — technical specs, minimum library size, content rights requirements, formats accepted by major platforms, and what not to launch with.

The major platforms for FAST channel distribution — Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Pluto, Tubi, Plex, and more. What each platform requires, how to get on them, and which ones matter most.

How independent news organizations, journalists, and local news operations can use FAST channels to reach TV audiences — the format options, monetization, and what makes news content work on linear TV.

Why podcasting audiences translate well to FAST TV, how to repurpose your podcast content for a linear channel, what the economics look like, and how to get a podcast-based FAST channel live.

How sports leagues, clubs, and media companies can use FAST channels to distribute sports content — live vs. VOD rights, replay channels, highlights channels, and the economics of sports FAST.

A complete pre-launch checklist for FAST channel operators — content, technical setup, legal requirements, EPG, monetization, and promotion. Everything to verify before going live.

How FAST channel operators make money — SSAI ad revenue, revenue share models, CPM ranges by market and category, ad fill optimization, and what realistic earnings look like at different audience sizes.

How FAST channel operators license content from third parties — what rights to ask for, typical deal structures, where to find licensable content, and common rights traps to avoid.

Closed caption requirements for FAST channels — FCC rules for online video, which channels must have captions, acceptable caption formats (CEA-608, CEA-708, WebVTT), and how to add captions to your content before going live on Roku and Fire TV.

What HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is, how manifests work, what adaptive bitrate means for your viewers, and what FAST channel operators need to know about their HLS stream without getting a computer science degree.

A complete guide to launching a Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel — from understanding the category to choosing a platform, licensing content, and going live on Roku, Fire TV, and the web.

Everything you need to launch a Roku channel — the difference between a branded channel and a FAST channel, Roku's content requirements, the certification process, and how to go live fast without building an app.

A plain-English explanation of Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) for FAST channel operators — how it works, why it matters for TV distribution, the difference between SSAI and client-side ad insertion, and what you need to set it up.