Nasdaq-traded Comcast spinoff Versant on Wednesday brought to life a quartet of free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels tied to “past franchises” from CNBC, Oxygen and E!.
This grows Versant’s FAST portfolio to 13, and brings the offerings to Amazon Prime Video and, as of November 3, The Roku Channel.
Additionally, Free TV Networks’ Outlaw and 365BLK diginets, both already available on Prime Video, will also join The Roku Channel on November 10 and 17, respectively.
Versant intends to launch FAST channels with additional platforms in the coming months and says the FAST channel debuts “are the latest step in Versant’s strategy to build a more diversified growth business, with new opportunities beyond its pay-TV networks.”
It also illustrates the ongoing challenges for traditional cable television service providers and how “FAST” channel consumption has rapidly siphoned the MVPD audience.
The four new FAST channels include:
Snapped | Oxygen True Crime Available on Prime Video beginning October 27 and on The Roku Channel beginning November 17.
Botched | E! Available on Prime Video beginning October 27 and on The Roku Channel beginning November 17.
Oxygen Murders of America | Available on Prime Video beginning October 27 and on The Roku Channel beginning November 10.
CNBC Ambition | Available on Prime Video beginning October 27 and on The Roku Channel beginning November 3.
— Adam R Jacobson
