What is FAST TV?

Think of it like the rain cats and dogs version of broadcast TV , or watching cable at home . display have a set agenda , and everyone using the service is watching the same affair , using ads . Unlikelive TV streaming servicesthat you pay for , such asYouTube TVorHulu with Live TV , there ’s no up - front cost to the consumer . Everything on these services is fend for by advertizing — you just wo n’t have access to the “ serious ” channels like you would with paid streaming services .

How much money ? A stack . How many orb ? A quite a little . Which is why there are so many options these days . That ’s good for you , the viewer , even if it makes detect something particular a little tricky . Here , we detail the major FAST options usable . felicitous watching .

Amazon Freevee is now Amazon Prime Video

Amazon ’s Freevee was born from IMBD.tv . The latter — contain from the Internet Movie Database also possess by Amazon — launched in January 2019 under the name Freedive . ( You ’re forgive if you ’ve draw a blank that name . ) That ’s a lot of changes in a comparatively little amount of time , and matter are change again asAmazon phase out Freevee .

Amazon is discontinuing the religious service as Freevee , opting rather to wave it into their existingAmazon Prime Videolibrary . Instead of being a separate section on Amazon , the programs offered by Freevee will be usable to look on through the Prime Video app . The flick and appearance will still be free , and you ’ll still want an Amazon chronicle to see anything . The good news is that while the message wo n’t exist under the Freevee label , it will still be accessible whether you pay for a Prime subscription or not .

The less good intelligence is it wo n’t exist separately , it ’ll simply be part of Prime Video . For anyone who is n’t a Prime indorser , loyal content will be approachable by looking for the“watch for free”label on Prime Video . gratefully , this wo n’t affect how you watch the firm programs uncommitted . They ’ll still be accessible through the app , on consoles , telephone , tablet , and your PC .

Amazon Prime Video is uncommitted in over 200 land worldwide .

LG Channels

As dense television gave way to smart goggle box , some major manufacturers got smart themselves and have largely bring in their operating system in - house . LG is one of those , with its webOS - based systems . And among all the apps available is LG Channels .

While webOS is all LG , LG Channels itself actually is a rebranded example of Xumo ( which you ’ll discover at the last of this leaning for alphabetical reasons ) .

LG Channels has more than 100 free channels uncommitted , and they ’re present correctly alongside anything else in the built - in distribution channel template . So if you ’re whip broadcast or cable tv set into your LG TV , everything will be found in one place .

To get LG Channels , you ’ll need to be on an LG TV that ’s work webOS 3.5 or newer .

Plex

Plexmostly has been known as a topnotch - sinewy - but - lightweight server that lets you stream moving picture stored on your local internet ( that you ’ve legally obtain , of course ) onto much any gimmick , whether you ’re at habitation or on the road . But in recent year it restfully pay off into the FAST game with a couple hundred free streaming channels , exhibit in a linear guide .

The content runs the gamut , though you probably would n’t conceive most of it to be first - tier . But you will find something to at least engross your attention for a small while . And if you ’re extend a digital turner or antenna through Plex , you ’ll get all your channels in one place , which is cool . Plus Plex has the ability to cut commercial message .

The loyal channels are all available without the paid Plex Pass subscription , which is courteous , and you ’re capable to watch on virtually any modern equipment .

Pluto TV

Pluto TVis one of the OGs of the FAST industry after its founding in 2013 . For a long time it mostly had the sort of unknown distribution channel FAST service used to be know for — fundamentally shows that might make up a random YouTube channel , or some long - forgotten program series .

That all change a match of year later after Pluto TV signalise deal with Hulu , making available shows from ABC , NBC , and Fox . Other licensing continue after that , and the Robert William Service continued to grow , hit more than 15 million exploiter in belated 2017 . Pluto TV expanded into Europe a year subsequently .

But things really fix interesting in 2019 when Viacom buy Pluto TV for $ 340 million . That bring the full might of the CBS universe into the conversation , and a wealth of new content came with it , include from such web as Paramount Pictures , BET , Comedy Central , MTV , Nickelodeon , and more . Since then , Viacom morphed into ViacomCBS , and now Paramount .

As of May 2023 , PlutoTV was regarded as the largest firm service globally with some 80 million monthly combat-ready drug user . It ’s available on any advanced gadget .

Samsung TV Plus

Like its South Korean brethren at LG , Samsung also has its own operating system of rules for its televisions and Galaxy line of mobile equipment . And like LG it also has its own quick military service , which provides a couple hundred channels to its customers , for free .

And , well , that ’s it . You get thousands of moving-picture show and shows on demand in addition to the live channels .

If you ’ve got a relatively modernSamsung TV , you should be good to go . Same , too , for Galaxy phones and tablet . ( If you have something a short old you may ask to download the app first . )

Note that you do n’t have to have a Samsung account to start out watching . ( Though if you ’re on a Samsung earpiece or pad of paper , you likely already do . ) But you will get some extra features , include the ability to go on learn something where you left off , preferred channels , the power to edit channel , pose lookout man reminders , and create watchlists .

Sling Freestream

Sling Freestreamgets you more than 335 channel with more than 40,000 shows and movies usable on demand , from all the common suspects . Freestream is wholly freestanding from thetraditional Sling TV experience . It ’s not a free trial , and you ’re not signing up for Sling TV if you look out Freestream . But you will be watch via the Sling TV app .

You do n’t have to even have a Sling tv set login to watch . But if you do you ’ll get more personalized results , drug user profiles , and the ability to have favorite channels .

Sling Freestream is usable on most New cyclosis devices , as well as smart TVs , and in a vane web browser .

The Roku Channel

Rokuis the biggest streaming platform in the U.S. and No . 2 in the respite of the creation . And for most of its life , it has been political program agnostical . It was wear as an well-heeled agency to find out Netflix on any speechless television , and the app political platform grew from there . But in recent years Roku — which always has had display advertising to offset the cost of its inexpensive hardware — has become far more profitable as an advertising service .

So it made utter signified that Roku started its own truehearted serve withThe Roku Channel , in addition to offering moving-picture show and usher for rent and leverage .

The Roku Channel should be consider in the same tier as Pluto TV , thanks to the sheer breadth of channels uncommitted ( more than 350 of the linear smorgasbord ) , as well as the quality of content licensed . And on top of that is all of the Roku Originals that Roku has gotten itself into , either with its acquit ion of contentedness from the now - defunct Quibi service , or display and movies it ’s done on its own .

The Roku Channel is happen on Roku machine , of track , from the low - cost cyclosis sticks to the hugely democratic Roku TV lineups . The Roku Channel also is available on Samsung TVs , on Amazon Fire idiot box devices , and atTheRokuChannel.com .

Tubi

Paramount has Pluto TV , andFox has Tubi , which in addition to being a major dissolute option also is a member of the AVOD community . ( That ’s ad - base video on demand . ) There ’s a serious chance that if there ’s some former or unknown movie or serial you want to watch , you’re able to find it on Tubi . The same go , though , for any comparatively late mental object from the broader Fox networks . Tubi also certify subject matter from competing electronic connection such as Paramount , MGM , and Lionsgate .

And Tubi go into the secret plan during the Super Bowl festivities , too , with appurtenant subject that ultimately took a back fundament to a magnificent in - game commercial that had everyone inquire what had just happened to their television .

Tubi is guess to be a little smaller than Pluto TV , but not by a whole lot . ( It has n’t given any prescribed numbers game in some time . ) In April 2023 the society underwent a evenhandedly major interior shakeup and formed the Tubi Media Group , contribute together the subject matter side with ad and digital expertise . ( In other words , Fox is serious about tight . )

Tubi is usable on any New machine , from mobile devices to smart display , fresh television receiver , and online at tubi.tv .

Vizio WatchFree+

Like LG and Samsung , Vizio also has its own operating system on its televisions . And that operating system —   called SmartCast —   has its own immobile service called WatchFree+ .

You roll in the hay the story by now — a few hundred channels sourced from all variety of place . ( Though a quick flavor at the channel guide and you ’ll quickly observe that Pluto TV is boast conspicuously , so serve it to say you ’ll find all sort of Pluto / Paramount subject on panel . )

WatchFree+ boasts more than 300 spare channel , with more than 15,000 movies and bear witness uncommitted on demand . It ’s currently only uncommitted in the U.S. , on Vizio televisions andin the Vizio peregrine app .

Vudu

Vuduis another one of those longtime armed service that have been eclipsed by the likes of Tubi and Pluto TV . It mostly has been make love as a property other than Apple or Google to charter or buy moving picture . But it ’s also part of the FAST universe .

Walmart purchased Vudu back in 2010 , and in doing so kill off a relatively quiet partnership Vudu had with AVN , bonk as the After Dark section . A decade subsequently Vudu was unloaded to NBCUniversal ’s Fandango Media , which is where matter stand today , with the service living on under the Vudu name .

Vudu still will take your money , but the panoptic quick section is full of old - school shows and movies , which earn it a sport option for anyone look to go back in time a few decade .

Xumo Play

And then there ’s Xumo . Or , rather , Xumo manoeuvre . Now owned by Comcast and Charter , Xumo is a name that ’s been around for geezerhood , but it ’s always been in the sort of breather that include “ Oh , right . That ’s a matter . ” It ’s include with Comcast ’s X1 platform , and you ’ll retrieve that LG is using it with its LG Channels service .

The Xumo Play name is reserved for the FAST version of Xumo . There ’s also the Xumo Stream Box , which is come in to Comcast ’s broadband customers , and Class TV , which is a low - cost line of television system from Hisense , available at Walmart .

In any event , we ’re talk a twain of hundred gratuitous linear transmission channel with the traditional Xumo FAST service .