FAST: VICE Media’s Bea Hegedus says FAST channels need curation to “live”

Bea Hegedus

VICE Media exec Bea Hegedus has urged the importance of curation in order for FAST channels to flourish in the market. 

Speaking at the DTG Summit today in London today, during the FAST track to success session, the executive managing director for distribution outlined discoverability, clear brand identity and curation as key to driving growth in the FAST space.

“Without curation, FAST channels will not live,” she stressed.

Akhila Khanna, VP for partnerships and business development at Paramount UK further explained that curation is what differentiates FAST from broadcast.

“FAST is really about catering for fans. It’s gauging as fashion verticals that you can create. You can create these really niche channels for people who are fans, When you do get them in, the watch time per user is tremendous because you capture that audience,” she said.

Commenting on the rise of FAST channels, Richard Jakeman, European head of business development – smart tv, mobile & gaming for Samsung said, “There has been a broadening and accepting of FAST as a category and a keenness level to be part of that. There is an evolution and it’s moving quite quickly, as the market is willing to put their assets and their rights into this space and delivery services.

He added, “It’s a partnership with the channels and with the application partners as well. So really, we can’t do it alone. We have to and want to only do it with the content partners to make sure that that their content is being presented on the platform, and hopefully it’s helping drive the viewing on their on their channels.”

With the rise of FAST channels comes a “fight for quality” said Gary Woolf, EVP for strategic development at All3Media International, . He made references to All3Media’s key three type of channels which are single IP channels, single genre channels and single talent channels.

“We’re trying to look beyond, it (FAST) being a place to put library in stack library. They’re trying to do creative things around that to make the real experience beyond what you’re seeing somewhere else.”