Streaming 101: Intermittent FASTing
If you listen to some people, you’d think TV is dead. I’m here to tell you that is not the case. There is so much great TV out there to be watched, there is barely enough time. With so much content out there, there’s no need to fast to extend content viewing. Don’t fast, feast!
I talk a lot about streaming. Streaming services, platforms, devices, if it streaming related, I’ll talk about it. Here is quick a factoid for you. With around 500 original series produced every year for the past several years, there’s a lot of TV that people haven’t seen. In other words, if I haven’t seen it, it’s new to me! There are cable series out there that are now finding more viewers on Netflix than they may have seen on their original network. Both Suits (originally USA) and Ballers (originally HBO) have made the top 10 in Netflix ratings in August 2023.
Yes, I know, not everyone has Netflix because it is a subscription video service.
Enter the FAST platforms. To clarify, “FAST” is just an acronym for Free Ad Supported Television. Did I mention the word FREE?
OK, was just checking.
In our previous blog on streaming we introduced the concept of the FAST platform and listed a bunch of them. Today, I will focus on just two; Freevee and Pluto.
Freevee
Why highlight this one? Good question, I’m glad you asked. While it is not the most popular platform of the bunch, it may be the most accessible.
A product of Amazon, Freevee is available to all streaming users either through Amazon Prime video or as a standalone app loaded to any streaming TV or device. According to Amazon, “Freevee is a free streaming service that has something for everyone. With thousands of popular TV shows and movies, you’re sure to find something that suits your mood. Formerly IMDb TV, it is a streaming video service with thousands of premium movies and TV shows, including Originals and free ad-supported streaming TV channels.”
In addition, Amazon retooled the platform over the summer and it now has a very easy-to-use guide with close to 400 channels under the ‘live’ heading on the platform’s home page.
Did I say 400 channels? Did I mention FREE? OK, making sure you are still with me.
Like cooking shows? Last I looked there were about 14 channels entirely dedicated to them. Crimes and Investigation? Movies? Westerns? Action? Judge Judy? Yep, entire channels dedicated to them. Old and new, there are thousand of hours of programming out there for you to watch.
Pluto TV
Honestly, I’m on the fence whether I will consider Pluto a planet, or a dwarf planet, but that’s a story for another day. I am happy to see the other Pluto TV growing strong! Pluto’s tag lines include “100s of channels. Zero dollars”, and ‘stream now, pay never’ .
Pluto currently has more than 80 million active monthly users worldwide. Yes, 80,000,000 of them. Monthly.
Streaming is not a fad, it is not out on the fringe, it is how more and more people are watching their video content.
A product of CBS/Paramount, Pluto also boasts hundreds of channels to watch, all free. Owned by the CBS family you can imagine the wealth of programming included from the CBS/Paramount library. Incidentally, did you know that in all of the Video on Demand content on traditional Cable TV, CBS programming accounts for approximately 75 percent of all the viewed content?
Pluto has just announced they are taking this platform to the next level with user personalization. Yes, Pluto TV, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service, is rolling out a new “Home” page on its app that spotlights curated content and personalized recommendations. Returning Pluto users will see recommended programming based on their viewing habits, while new users can browse the section’s trending and “editorially-curated” suggestions. The more a user watches or marks content as favorites the more personalized content shows up on the Home screen. This enhancement, which is scheduled to roll out later this year will take FAST platform viewing to the next level!
And they are saying TV is dead… I have to tell you, it’s alive and kicking, just on a new platform. If I may repeat one line from the top of this blog, it is this. ‘If I haven’t seen it, it’s new to me!’
The King is dead! Long live the King!
