New York Post Media Group is launching its first free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel, which will feature 150 hours of programming from its portfolio. The Post is partnering with VideoElephant for a managed service to handle scheduling, distribution, and monetization, rather than building the streaming operation internally. This move highlights a broader trend of publishers expanding into FAST to capitalize on growing CTV ad dollars and consumer interest in free content.
The move signals a maturing phase for publishers where content volume, rather than just brand recognition, dictates streaming entry. By using a managed service like VideoElephant, the Post bypasses technical barriers to entry, treating FAST as a high-margin distribution layer for existing digital video series. This reflects a broader industry pivot away from walled-garden strategies toward aggressive off-platform monetization as CTV ad spend is projected to hit $38 billion by late 2026. Watch for whether the Post secures top-tier placement on major aggregators like Samsung TV Plus or the newly Fox-aligned Roku to leverage Its 62 million monthly unique visitors.
VideoElephant has positioned itself as a turnkey FAST channel provider for publishers and content owners that lack in-house streaming infrastructure. The company's platform handles channel scheduling, ad insertion, distribution to aggregators, and monetization analytics as a managed service, a model that mirrors how cloud-based playout and distribution vendors have lowered the barrier to FAST entry for mid-tier content owners. VideoElephant's client roster includes publishers and sports rights holders seeking incremental revenue from existing video libraries without capital expenditure on encoding, packaging, or ad-tech stacks.
The New York Post's FAST launch arrives as the broader FAST market shows signs of maturation. According to OTI StreamTRAK data tracking 2,032 distinct FAST channels across 15 major U.S. providers, up just 6% from the prior count, the channel land grab is slowing, with several major providers reducing channel counts even as others like Vizio WatchFree and Prime Live TV continued aggressive expansion. This consolidation dynamic means new entrants like the Post need differentiated content and strong aggregator placement to secure visibility, making managed-service partners that handle distribution relationships increasingly valuable for publishers entering the space late.
Meanwhile, Streaming Media reported in June 2026 on the growing demand for pop-up FAST channels, noting that the flexibility of FAST channels has led to formats covering niche content, testing new programming concepts, and reacting to specific events. For a publisher like the New York Post with 150 hours of existing video content, these trends suggest that managed-service providers like VideoElephant can help navigate both the technical requirements and the discoverability challenges of entering a maturing FAST landscape.
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