TV news’ FAST era: Can free channels bring back younger viewers?

by

Now you can be a cord-cutter and a TV news junkie too.

More people are ditching traditional cable TV and discovering a wider range of choices for getting national and local news, like streaming services and online platforms.

If you’ve been to a nail salon or bagel shop lately, you might notice something different on the TVs. Instead of traditional news channels like CNN, Fox News, or CNBC, many businesses are now showing free channels that just display headlines.

TV news organizations are increasingly focusing on streaming services as more people, especially younger generations, get their news from platforms like TikTok and Instagram instead of traditional television.

More people are tuning into local and national news through free streaming channels, often called FAST (free ad-supported streaming television). These channels are becoming easier to access thanks to smart TVs and streaming platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku, and Samsung TV Plus, which come pre-installed on many TVs.

Ethan Cramer-Flood, who analyzes the increasing popularity of FAST channels at Emarketer, recently discovered a surprising benefit of cutting cable: he could watch local New York news stations like WABC-TV on demand through his Roku device.

After cancelling cable, Cramer-Flood realized she missed having easy access to news. With traditional TV, news programs were always available – you could simply turn on the channel and watch a half-hour newscast whenever you wanted.

More people are getting their news from FAST channels, and this trend is quickly gaining popularity. Current data shows 116.8 million U.S. viewers are using FAST channels, with forecasts predicting that number will rise to 130 million before the end of the 2020s.

According to Cramer-Flood, smart TVs are making it just as easy to watch free ad-supported streaming channels (FAST) as traditional cable TV.

It’s incredibly easy to start using the service-there’s no cost or sign-up required. With just one click, you can access the same experience you’d get with traditional cable.

As a big fan of staying informed, I’ve noticed how the major networks – ABC, CBS, NBC, and groups like Fox, Nexstar, and Scripps – have been building out their streaming news channels for a while now. It’s a smart move, really, because so many of us are watching less traditional TV. These channels started by just replaying what you’d see on regular broadcasts – the news, morning shows, that kind of thing – but they’ve been adding original content too. It’s a great way for up-and-coming news anchors to get some experience and build a following, and honestly, it keeps things interesting for viewers like me!

Tom Llamas anchored for four years at NBC News Now, a streaming channel, before becoming the anchor of “NBC Nightly News” in June. He continues to host his streaming newscast, “Top Story,” to connect with a younger audience – about 20 years younger than those who watch regular television.

For its 2024 presidential debate, ABC News selected Linsey Davis, who anchors its streaming news show on ABC News Live, to join David Muir of “World News Tonight” as a co-moderator.

With more people switching to streaming, news organizations like CNN and BBC News are starting to offer content on free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, even though they still make most of their money from traditional cable and satellite TV.

CNN has introduced CNN Headlines, a free streaming channel offering quick updates on national and global news gathered from their reporting teams. Unlike CNN’s main cable channel, it doesn’t feature live interviews, discussions, or debates. The channel’s main anchor, Brad Smith, often trades a suit and tie for a leather jacket, reflecting a more relaxed style that appeals to younger audiences who aren’t as focused on traditional news presentation.

I’ve noticed CNN’s programming feels a lot less stuffy and more relaxed than what you’d typically see on traditional cable news, according to Eric Sherling, who’s a big part of making those decisions over here in U.S. programming.

CNN is launching Headlines as a preview of its upcoming subscription service. This new service will allow people to watch CNN directly, without needing a traditional cable TV subscription, for the first time.

Sherling explained that the two services are designed for different viewers: CNN Headline will attract people who want quick updates, while paying subscribers will receive the detailed, in-depth reporting they’re accustomed to on the traditional cable channel.

CNN Headlines took the place of an older channel that simply replayed clips from regular CNN broadcasts. While it wasn’t carefully organized, Sherling noted that many viewers tuned in.

CNN Headlines is off to a good start, attracting 30 million users each month and over 2 million every day, according to the network.

People watching TV in the U.S. have found a way to stream BBC News through AMC Networks. Viewership jumped significantly in June, reaching 258.5 million minutes streamed – a 153% increase compared to June of the previous year, according to AMC’s numbers.

I’ve been watching AMC Networks really push their shows onto these free, ad-supported streaming channels – FAST channels, they’re called. It makes sense, since more and more people are ditching traditional cable, and they need to find new ways to get their content out there. They’ve already got around 20 of these channels up and running, and just recently added BBC News to the lineup.

California

Local reporters and news anchors are going above and beyond to help their communities during this difficult time of loss and destruction.

This online stream is the same as the BBC News feed available to cable and satellite TV customers. However, according to Amy Leasca, a VP at AMC Networks, they haven’t noticed viewers switching *from* cable TV *to* the stream.

According to Leasca, people watching BBC News online are increasingly tuning in at specific times for scheduled programs, behaving much like traditional TV viewers.

Fox Television Stations’ LiveNOW channel offers a unique take on news coverage. It streams unedited, live footage of breaking news events, with journalists acting as guides to help viewers follow the action. These journalists simply introduce the live video without adding their own opinions or analysis.

Emily Stone, a vice president at Fox Television Stations, explained that the broadcasts aren’t read from scripts or prompted in any way.

It’s rare for companies to share detailed viewership data for their free ad-supported television (FAST) news channels. However, LiveNOW is different – they display their viewer numbers live on screen. According to Jeff Zellmer, a Fox Television executive, this real-time data helps them decide what news stories to focus on.

Hollywood Inc.

Fox News announced Wednesday that it’s adding a new Sunday show hosted by White House correspondents Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich.

LiveNOW broadcast a live view of an empty podium on Friday while awaiting a press conference about the arrest of the person accused of shooting right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Over 345,000 people were already watching, and that number jumped to 400,000 as soon as law enforcement began speaking.

As a total news and movie buff, I was really surprised to see LiveNOW hit a record 1.95 million viewers back in February! Apparently, a lot of people tuned in to watch President Trump’s address to Congress – it’s cool to see live events still draw such a big crowd.

LiveNOW began in 2014 as a test project. Jack Abernethy, then President of Fox Television Stations, asked his stations to create an affordable streaming service with the resources they already had.

According to Stone, the Phoenix station decided to launch a YouTube channel where someone would operate a video switcher, combining various live feeds to see what content they could create.

The broadcast featured live, local happenings, and sometimes included car chases happening in California.

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic and protests following George Floyd’s death unfolded, people turned to officials for the latest news. This helped LiveNOW attract a growing audience.

“There was a press conference every second from every city,” Zellner said.

LiveNOW uses video journalists who aren’t traditional, highly-paid news anchors. Their team of ten works from simple studios in Phoenix and Tampa, Florida, which helps the company stay financially successful.

Kate O’Brian, formerly in charge of Scripps’ streaming news, believes the more relaxed style of streaming news will likely become standard practice in the future.

O’Brian believes audiences connect with the show’s raw and honest moments, even when they aren’t polished. He suggests that the pandemic, which forced reporters to work from home, shifted viewers’ expectations and made them more accepting of less conventional broadcasts.

Read More

2025-09-16 13:32