Live sport dominates FAST platforms as 84% of live events are sports

Amagi has released its 15th Global FAST Report, revealing the increasing dominance of live content, particularly sport, on Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) platforms.

According to the report, 84% of all live events managed by Amagi in Q1 2025 were sports-related. The findings point to a broader viewer shift towards real-time, event-driven programming, rather than casual channel surfing.

“Live content is becoming a defining feature of FAST, not just in sports but across genres that benefit from real-time engagement,” said Srinivasan KA, Director and President - Global Business at Amagi. “What we’re seeing now is a shift in how audiences consume free streaming—they’re not just browsing channels but tuning in for moments that matter.”

The report draws on a mix of proprietary platform data and a consumer survey sample from the 2025 Amagi Consumer Survey. It underscores the role of live programming in driving audience engagement and loyalty:

• 67% of U.S. viewers prefer live events on streaming platforms
• 47% would trial a paid service if offered a free live event
• 70% watch live content either daily or weekly

Amagi positions these figures as evidence of the growing importance of event-based programming strategies for content providers, who are increasingly relying on live formats to drive monetisation and build recurring audiences.

“As the FAST ecosystem matures, platforms and content providers can build more dynamic, event-driven programming strategies aimed at loyalty and monetisation,” Srinivasan added. “Our goal at Amagi is to enable this shift—with the infrastructure, data, and flexibility to support live and linear content at scale.”

The Global FAST Report also tracks how viewer preferences, ad models, and content strategies are evolving across the global FAST landscape. Stakeholders are encouraged to leverage the findings to refine audience acquisition and monetisation strategies in a rapidly growing segment of the streaming market.

To access the full 15th Global FAST Report and data from the 2025 Amagi Consumer Survey, visit Amagi’s website.

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