Traditional Pay TV Goes FAST
A fundamental shift is happening: traditional pay TV operators (not just OTT platforms) are now massively integrating FAST as part of their "beyond live sports" strategy.
This is not a small experiment — major telecom operators are launching 40+ FAST channels as part of their existing bundles.
Key Players in 2026
Deutsche Telekom
40 FAST channels on MagentaTV for FIFA World Cup 2026. Sports, entertainment, lifestyle content.
Virgin Media
Added Rakuten FAST (40 channels) to existing pay TV bundle. Cross-selling opportunity.
Rakuten
Expanding FAST distribution through telecom partnerships across Europe.
Why Operators Need FAST
Audience Expansion
Reach cord-cutters and younger demographics.
New Ad Revenue
Programmatic advertising on FAST inventory.
Subscriber Retention
More content = less churn for pay TV.
Data Insights
First-party viewing data across FAST.
Integration Challenges
Operators face significant challenges when integrating FAST:
Pain Points
- 1. EPG Integration — 40+ FAST channels need EPG data in operator's middleware format.
- 2. Metadata Quality — Poor metadata = invisible content in discovery.
- 3. Programmatic Ads — Need structured metadata for contextual targeting.
- 4. Real-time Updates — FAST schedules change frequently, EPG must sync.
EPG Service Solution
EPG Service provides unified EPG for FAST channels:
EPG Normalization
Convert FAST EPG to operator middleware format (XMLTV, JSON, proprietary).
Metadata Enrichment
Add genre, cast, ratings, imagery to basic EPG data.
Real-time Sync
24/7 EPG updates with sub-minute latency.
Multi-source Aggregation
Combine EPG from multiple FAST providers into unified feed.
Integrating FAST into your platform?
EPG Service provides unified EPG with enriched metadata for 40+ FAST channels. Real-time sync, operator middleware integration.
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