Tag: FAST Channel

Samsung TV Plus to Be Exclusive MotoAmerica Race FAST Channel Home for 2026-27

Samsung TV Plus will be the exclusive FAST channel home for live MotoAmerica races for the 2026-27 seasons, the streaming service announced.

Samsung TV Plus and V10 Entertainment have unveiled a partnership with MotoAmerica that will bring viewers every live race and coverage of the seasons.

The 84th running of the Daytona 200 kicks off March 6 on the Samsung TV Network (STN), followed by the debut of MotoAmericaTV, the exclusive Samsung FAST destination slated to launch later this spring. The 24/7 channel will present 200-plus hours of North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series and premium race content, as well as live event streams, full race replays, select practice sessions and qualifiers, and complete race coverage. For the first time ever, every class will be televised, including an all-women’s class and the MotoAmerica premier Superbike class, which is celebrating 2026 as the pinnacle of 50 years of production-based motorcycle racing. Viewers can also catch select live races on STN throughout the season.

“The most enduring sports racing segments are driven, literally and figuratively, by passionate fans. This launch, along with our partnership with MotoAmerica and V10, marks an exciting expansion into new sports franchises with millions of viewers,” Salek Brodsky, SVP and global head of Samsung TV Plus, said in a statement. “As Samsung TV Plus continues to broaden its live sports portfolio, this new content strengthens our lineup by providing an immersive, accessible, and dedicated destination for motorcycle racing.”

The new destination will also deliver a look at behind-the-scenes content and a library of archival videos, including highlight reels. MotoAmerica’s 2026 season will span 10 race weekends from March through September across seven premier classes and 10 states, with events held at legendary circuits, including Daytona International Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and the Circuit of The Americas.

“Having a company like Samsung get behind MotoAmerica is significant for our continued growth and provides a unique opportunity, beginning with the Daytona 200, to bring MotoAmerica to the Samsung TV Plus audience of more than 100 million monthly users,” Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica, said in a statement. “MotoAmerica premier live races will take center stage on the Samsung TV Network, marking an exciting new chapter for the sport. This is a defining moment for our series, for motorcycle racing, and for the next generation of riders and fans alike.”

Full MotoAmerica Race Schedule:

  • March 5-7: Daytona International Speedway*
  • April 17-19: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
  • May 15-17: Barber Motorsports Park
  • May 29-31: Road America
  • June 26-28: Ridge Motorsports Park
  • July 10-12: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
  • July 31-Aug 2: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
  • Aug 14-16: Virginia International Raceway
  • Sept 11-13: Circuit of The Americas
  • Sept 25-27: New Jersey Motorsports Park

 

*The Daytona 200 will be available to watch on STN with subsequent races also available on MotoAmericaTV.

In 2025, MotoAmerica closed out its most successful season to date, with a surge in linear-TV viewership, as well as more than 2.5 million digital video views and a social following of more than 4 million fans. Its live-event races brought in more than 400,000 enthusiasts across 12 events, including a record-setting crowd at Road America.  MotoAmerica brings to audiences more than 100 live races across seven premier classes, including Superbike, Supersport, King of the Baggers, Twins Cup, Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race., the Super Hooligan National Championship, and the newly launched Talent Cup.

MotoAmerica is the latest addition to Samsung TV Plus’s lineup of live events from sports leagues, including the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL and FAST-exclusive MLV coverage. Samsung TV Plus, which recently surpassed 100 million monthly active users, offers more than 4,300 channels globally, subscription-free, and is available in 30 countries exclusively across Samsung TVs, Samsung Galaxy phones, XR headsets, Galaxy Tab, Smart Monitor and Family Hub lineups. This includes the new 2026 TV series announced earlier this year at CES, spanning Samsung Micro RGB TV, Neo QLED, OLED, The Frame, The Frame Pro and more.

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Samsung TV Plus Partners With Spotify for Its First FAST Channel

Samsung TV Plus is partnering with Spotify to exclusively launch its first-ever FAST channel, The Ringer from Spotify.

Founded by Bill Simmons, The Ringer is one of Spotify’s most popular and influential podcast collections, known for blending expertise with cultural relevance across more than 50 shows. First unveiled at Samsung Ads’ NewFronts presentation, the channel will feature uniquely curated episodes of the always-on video podcasts. 

“Since its launch, The Ringer has been at the forefront of podcasting, blending sharp analysis with enthusiasm across topics in sports, culture, and entertainment. Bringing The Ringer to Samsung TV Plus is an exciting evolution — expanding our reach and allowing audiences to engage with our content in new ways,” Geoff Chow, Spotify’s head of podcast studios and managing director of The Ringer, said in a statement. “This partnership highlights the growing influence of video podcasts and reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality programming across multiple platforms.”

“Samsung TV Plus is where storytelling meets scale — and with this first-of-its-kind partnership, the biggest screen in the home becomes a stage for podcasting’s boldest video programming to come to life,” Salek Brodsky, SVP and global head of Samsung TV Plus, said in a statement. “The Ringer brings an arsenal of talent and some of the most dynamic, culture-shaping voices to Samsung TV Plus where we continue to redefine what television can be, opening up an entirely new dimension of entertainment for audiences to explore.”

The Ringer from Spotify offers a curated selection of its most popular podcasts, including:

  • The Rewatchables: Dive into timeless movies with Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey and other Ringer personalities as they dissect classic films, from Back to the Future to Alien.
  • Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay: Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan tackle news, politics, and culture with insights and debates.
  • Speidi’s 16th Minute: Reality TV veterans Heidi and Spencer Pratt break down the latest in pop culture, social media trends, and celebrity gossip in bite-sized episodes.
  • Book of Basketball 2.0: In this special project podcast, Bill Simmons breaks down the NBA’s most important games, players, and teams, extending and reinventing his New York Times No. 1 bestselling book from 2009. Playing off the NBA’s dramatic changes during the past decade, Simmons uses new commentary and fresh interviews with players and top media members to determine how the league has evolved and where it’s headed.
  • The Big Picture: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see, along with providing award show analysis, movie drafts and more.
  • The Ringer-Verse: Your ultimate hub for nerd culture, featuring deep dives into everything from “Star Wars” to Marvel shows.
  • The Dave Chang Show: Besides being the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group and the creator and host of Netflix’s “Dinner Time Live,” Chang is an avid student and fan of sports, music, art, film, and, of course, food. He and a rotating cast of guests talk about their inspirations, failures, successes, fame, and identities.
  • The Recipe Club: Chef David Chang, Chris Ying and guests explore the art of cooking, debating and refining recipes each week.
  • House of R: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson explore fictional universes with their signature Deep Dives into everything from “Game of Thrones” to “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings” to Marvel, and beyond.

 

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OTTera Partners With Shade Room on New FAST Channel

OTTera, a provider of end-to-end OTT and FAST solutions, has partnered with digital media brand The Shade Room on a new FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channel, marking the company’s entry into the streaming space.

The new channel from The Shade Room, which has more than 46 million social media followers, will showcase its content library, including investigative series, live shows, and long-form originals such as Thick House, Shady Brunch and Love Locked, in a linear-style streaming format, offering viewers a curated experience of the best of the company’s decade-long content creation.

The move reinforces The Shade Room’s position as a trusted cultural brand for Black audiences, reaching 88% of Black adults on social media, while highlighting OTTera’s commitment to amplifying Black news and pop culture through a seamless, monetized distribution platform, according to an OTTera press release.

OTTera will provide full playout, global distribution and monetization through AdNet+, ensuring a smooth and scalable transition to FAST.

“The Shade Room is more than a media brand, it’s a cultural powerhouse,” Stephen L. Hodge, CEO of OTTera, said in a statement. “We’re excited to support their bold vision in FAST and bring their signature storytelling and vibrant voice to screens worldwide.”

“For more than a decade, The Shade Room has created original content that reflects the culture and community that define us,” Joshua Ott, head of revenue at The Shade Room, said in a statement. “We’re bringing the best of our library into a linear experience that meets audiences where they are and strengthens the connection they already have with our brand. Partnering with OTTera allows us to scale that impact while staying true to the voice our audience relies on.” 

The new FAST channel will be accessible on leading platforms via OTTera’s StreamBridge, expanding The Shade Room’s presence across the United States.

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Gracenote: Number of FAST Channels Grew Nearly 14% in 2025 Through July

Gracenote, the content data business unit of Nielsen, has expanded its Data Hub resource to include insights on nearly 1,850 active FAST channels, and according to a new analysis from Gracenote, the number of FAST channels grew nearly 14% for the year and 76% since 2023 through the end of July.

The enhanced Gracenote Data Hub enables visibility into more than 645,000 TV, movie and sports programs and episodes on SVOD platforms and more than 197,000 programs across global FAST channels. 

In contrast to expectations, FAST channels offer a greater percentage of more recent content than SVOD services. Nearly half of current FAST programming was produced in the past five years compared to nearly one third on premium SVOD. Focusing on content produced in the past 15 years, the numbers jump to nearly 80% for FAST and 68.5% for SVOD.

Given the linear, scheduled nature of FAST channels, the prevalence of TV programming is significant, according to Gracenote. In fact, nearly 93.1% of available content on FAST is TV programming (when individual episodes are counted). Comparatively, 88.8% of available content on top SVOD services is TV programming. 

Sports accounted for the largest increase among all content types for SVOD in the last three months, a jump of 13.2%. By comparison, movie content on SVOD grew 10% while TV content increased 9.2%. Focusing on FAST, sports programming was down 3.7% over the same period, but up 14% year-to-date.

Other findings in the new Data Hub update include:

  • Focusing on FAST genre composition, documentaries accounted for the largest concentration of programming at 16.1%;
  • Drama was the second most prevalent genre at 10.6%, while news was third at 9.9%;
  • Looking at FAST genre growth, news led all categories with a 37% programming increase, followed by horror with a 30% increase;
  • In terms of SVOD, major platforms grew their overall content offerings by 9.8% in the last three months; and
  • Amazon added the most titles quarter-over-quarter (12.6%) followed by Paramount+ (6.4%).

 

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PBS Distribution Launches PBS Travel FAST Channel

PBS Distribution in partnership with American Public Television has announced the launch of PBS Travel, a new free ad-supported television streaming channel that is now available on Prime Video in the United States and Plex in the United States and Canada, and will be available on Samsung TV Plus later this month. 

PBS Travel is a curated destination for curious travel-loving audiences eager to explore the world through the lens of trusted voices and rich storytelling. From the cobblestone streets of Europe to the vibrant markets of Asia and beyond, the channel features a lineup of acclaimed series, including “Rick Steves’ Europe,” “Curious Traveler,” “Dream of Italy,” “Weekends With Yankee” and more.

“PBS Travel lets viewers explore the world from home, discovering new cultures and perspectives through trusted storytelling and familiar faces — it’s a powerful way to connect us all,” Andrea Downing, president of PBS Distribution, said in a statement.

Anchored by multiple seasons of “Rick Steves’ Europe” — the longest-running travel series in public media — PBS Travel also showcases a wide range of programs that explore destinations near and far. “Curious Traveler” blends travel and history with a playful twist, answering the “who, what, where, when, and why” behind famous landmarks. “Dream of Italy” offers a cinematic journey through the country’s cultural and culinary treasures, while “Weekends with Yankee” takes viewers through the heart of New England with insider access to iconic spots, hidden gems, and local flavors. The “Visions of …” series rounds out the lineup, delivering aerial tours of iconic landscapes across Europe, the United States and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to partner with PBS Distribution to launch PBS Travel — a channel that brings the magic of travel to viewers everywhere,” Jim Dunford, president and CEO of American Public Television, said in a statement. “These programs celebrate the people, places, and traditions that make our world so rich and diverse. It’s a wonderful way to explore, learn, and be inspired — all from the comfort of home.”

“PBS Travel is an exciting new way to bring our stories to more people, more easily,” said Rick Steves, travel expert and host of “Rick Steves’ Europe.” “Whether you’re planning a trip or simply dreaming of one, this channel offers a front-row seat to the wonders of the world.”

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PBS Travel is part of PBS Distribution’s growing portfolio of FAST Channels, including Antiques Road Trip, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, PBS Documentaries, PBS Drama, PBS Food, PBS Genealogy, PBS | Nature and PBS Retro.

Brad Smith Hired to Anchor ‘CNN Headlines’ FAST Channel

Warner Bros. Discovery-owned CNN has hired Brad Smith as an anchor for CNN Headlines, the network’s domestic free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel covering major stories across entertainment, culture, business, politics and international.

Brad Smith

Smith’s appointment is part of CNN’s wider investment in its FAST programming, complementing CNN’s existing linear, digital, mobile and podcast offerings and soon-to-launch streaming service and other standalone products.

Outside of the United States, CNN relaunched the previously named “CNN Fast” channel as “CNN Headlines,” increasing the timeliness of content, adding a news ticker and refreshing the brand identity.

Smith was previously an anchor at Yahoo! Finance where he covered equity markets and interviewed chief executives of household-known businesses, cabinet officials, members of congress and economic policymakers as the host of “Morning Brief.”

Prior to joining Yahoo!, Smith was an anchor for the streaming platform Cheddar where his responsibilities spanned across Cheddar Business and Cheddar News. During his tenure, he hosted the daily live “Opening Bell” show from the New York Stock Exchange, and regularly steered heatmap and battleground states coverage during the 2020 election. He was also a founding anchor for the shows “Search for a Cure: COVID-19,” and “All Hands: Race to Inclusion.”

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Pluto TV Adds Liongate’s ’50 Cent Action’ FAST Channel

Timed to Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s 50th birthday, Pluto TV July 6 added Lionsgate’s “50 Cent Action” FAST channel to the service.

The channel features an adrenaline-fueled lineup of movies and series curated by the award winning rapper, actor and producer.

The channel kicked off with a special movie marathon for Jackson’s birthday celebration July 6. The “Curtis Collection” themed marathon featured movies starring Jackson including Freelancers, Righteous Kill, Fire with Fire, Set Up, Blood Out and Caught in the Crossfire.

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Blue Ant Media Launches ‘Declassified’ FAST Channel on Roku in Canada

International production studio, rights business and channel operator Blue Ant Media has launched the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel “Declassified” on The Roku Channel in Canada.

“Declassified” delves into the secrets behind the stories that have shaped the world, from conspiracies and catastrophes to engineering and ancient civilizations. The launch marks an expansion of the brand’s ongoing partnership with The Roku Channel. “Declassified” joins a lineup of Blue Ant free-streaming brands already streaming on the platform in Canada, including “Love Pets,” “Total Crime,” “Homeful” and “HauntTV.”

“Launching ‘Declassified’ on The Roku Channel in Canada extends our brand’s reach on one of Canada’s leading free streaming platforms,” Andrew Irwin, SVP of content distribution and partnerships at Blue Ant Media, said in a statement. “We’re proud to expand Blue Ant’s free streaming brand lineup on The Roku Channel and build on our successful partnership in Canada.”

Programming highlights on “Declassified” include San Andreas: A Race Against Time, a close-up look at one of the world’s most active earthquake zones and the engineering innovations designed to prevent the Big One; Who Sank the Titanic?, revealing how a chain of misjudgments, human errors and misfortunes doomed the ship; Roman Megastructures, exploring three cities that showcase the remnants of Roman ingenuity, using CGI, archive footage, aerial imagery and expert insights to reveal the secrets of their engineering marvels; Forbidden History, investigates two mysteries surrounding the ancient city of Petra in Jordan; Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified, examining the infamous plan to investigate UFO sightings during the Cold War; and Spycraft, which takes viewers on clandestine missions to learn how spies ferret out sensitive intel about foreign countries with the help of high-tech tools.

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Fremantle Partners With Nacelle to Distribute Comedy Dynamics FAST Channel

Fremantle has partnered with Nacelle to represent their FAST channel — Comedy Dynamics.

The global partnership will see Freemantle provide key support to scale the Comedy Dynamics Channel. 

Comedy Dynamics currently offers more than 1,000 hours of library content and is the number one indie distributor of stand-up comedy, according to Fremantle. The Nacelle library includes hit comedians such as Ali Wong, Jim Gaffigan, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Segura and Jeff Dunham. Currently, Comedy Dynamics receives tens of millions of views across all their channels, which have been providing entertainment for viewers in the United States since July 2019 on platforms such as Roku, Pluto TV, Samsung, and LG, according to Fremantle. The partnership will bolster Comedy Dynamics’ existing audience base, with an aim to scale out to further markets in North America, as well as internationally.

“This is a fantastic new deal for our Global Channels team and marks the very first of this kind of partnership,” Laura Florence, SVP of global channels for Fremantle, said in a statement. “Nacelle is a great partner for us with its impressive, growing library of content, which we look forward to bolstering with our global teams and expertise at Fremantle.”

“We’re excited to be partnering with Fremantle for our FAST channel,” Brian Volk-Weiss, Nacelle CEO, said in a statement. “This partnership helps provide free top-tier stand-up comedy to the masses.”

The deal was brokered by Kyle Harris, VP of acquisitions, and Jason Bandy, SVP of legal and business affairs, for Fremantle. Anna Roberts, SVP of distribution and acquisitions, and Nikki Barbanell, VP of business and legal affairs, brokered the deal for The Nacelle Company.

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Last year, Fremantle announced an expanded worldwide deal with Pluto TV, which saw the distribution of 25 FAST channels across 13 countries, with each channel being specifically curated for individual markets. In 2024, Fremantle also launched Rig TV for Roku in the United States, which is now available on several platforms including Amazon. The channel currently features classic shows from Fremantle’s team at original productions, such as “Jay Leno’s Garage,” “Black Gold,” “Monster House,” “Monster Garage” and “Wild Justice.” Fremantle’s global channels business currently operates more than 20 FAST channels, across 200 endpoints, across 18 territories and 25 platforms.

Remow Launches ’24/7 Samurai-Shinobi’ FAST Channel on Prime Video

Remow, a global entertainment company dedicated to bringing Japanese content to worldwide audiences, has announced the launch of “24/7 Samurai-Shinobi,” a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel that delivers action-packed sword fights and high-flying ninja acrobatics 24 hours a day.

Starting April 24, viewers in the United States can stream the “24/7 Samurai-Shinobi” channel for free on Prime Video and experience a thrilling collection of movies and television series from acclaimed Japanese creators, including legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike, action choreographer Sadao Nakajima, and storytelling icon Shintaro Katsu. The lineup also features actors such as Hiroyuki Sanada in the high-octane Ninja War and Ken Watanabe in the brooding period epic Zankuro, showcasing the depth and power of Japan’s action cinema.

The “24/7 Samurai-Shinobi” channel presents a lineup of period dramas and martial arts epics, many of which are available exclusively on the channel. Among the titles that will stream are:

  • Shogun’s Ninja — Directed by Koichi Sakamoto (“Power Rangers,” “Kamen Rider,” “Ultraman”), this film delivers a relentless, action-packed spectacle, blending breathtaking sword fights, high-flying ninja acrobatics, and a gripping story of honor, revenge, and destiny. Sakamoto is celebrated for his expertise in stunt choreography and action-packed visual storytelling.
  • “Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman” (Seasons 1-4) — Starring the legendary Shintarō Katsu, this classic series follows the blind masseur and master swordsman Zatoichi as he wanders feudal Japan, defending the helpless and challenging corruption with his lightning-fast blade. The series was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa and became one of Japan’s most enduring samurai franchises, spanning films and television series.
  • 13 Assassins — A modern masterpiece by Takashi Miike, this critically acclaimed film follows a group of elite samurai on a suicide mission to assassinate a tyrannical warlord. Miike, one of Japan’s most prolific directors, is known for his innovative and often extreme storytelling in films like Ichi the Killer and Audition.
  • Baian the Assassin, M.D. — Based on Shotaro Ikenami’s bestselling novel series, this period drama follows Baian Fujieda, a skilled acupuncturist with a deadly secret — a ruthless assassin. When a woman from his past reappears, Baian is drawn into a suspenseful battle of identity, morality, and action. With a compelling mix of dark intrigue and thrilling drama, this film is a must-watch for fans of samurai tales.
  • Ninja Wars — A cult favorite blending fantasy, mysticism, and intense ninja combat in a battle for ultimate power. Directed by Kōsei Saitō, the film is known for its supernatural elements and stunning action sequences that captivated audiences in the 1980s. Starring the legendary Hiroyuki Sanada, his dynamic performance adds depth to this thrilling tale, making it a must-watch for fans of classic ninja films.
  • Blackfox: Age of the Ninja — A high-energy modern retelling of ninja mythology featuring stunning choreography and visual effects. Directed by Kazuya Nomura, this film reimagines classic ninja legends with contemporary cinematic techniques, offering a fresh take on the genre.

 

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“Japanese samurai and ninja stories have captivated audiences for generations, and we’re proud to introduce this legacy of action-packed, visually stunning, and deeply emotional tales to a new generation of fans in the U.S.,” Akira Ishii, founder and CEO of Remow, said in a statement. “From the high-flying ninja battles of Shogun’s Ninja to the honorable warriors of Zatoichi and 13 Assassins, these stories offer the same thrilling action, rich character depth, and cinematic spectacle that have made franchises like ‘John Wick’ and ‘The Mandalorian’ global sensations. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Japanese period dramas or discovering them for the first time, ‘24/7 Samurai-Shinobi’ delivers something unforgettable.”

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