ABC Commercial partners tech outfit Amagi as it eyes FAST channel expansion

ABC Commercial shows include kids series Planet Lulin

Australia’s ABC Commercial is moving into the free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) arena in a bid to secure bigger global audiences and more revenue opportunities for locally made content.

The distribution arm of the national broadcaster is on the hunt for global platforms and broadcasters to carry its catalogue of more than 4,000 hours of content on FAST channels.

As a first step, ABC Commercial announced today it had selected Amagi as its technology partner for broadcast and connected TV solutions to launch the FAST offerings globally.

The news comes as ABC Commercial exhibits at Asia TV Forum this week. The company said it expected North America would be the first market in the FAST channel rollout and has plans to expand into Europe and Asia.

“Our channels will allow audiences to access Australia’s most loved and unique stories in innovative ways, whether they’re seeking family-friendly content, compelling dramas or captivating documentaries,” said Brian Lee, ABC Commercial’s digital sales manager.

The content and packaging of the channels has yet to be revealed, and more details will be revealed early in the new year.

Lee said the FAST channel strategy is leveraging the demand for Australian content from global audiences, which has peaked over the past decade. “We are confident that platforms will embrace our new channels with enthusiasm, allowing them to provide audiences with the opportunity to enjoy the best Australia has to offer,” he added.

Amagi provides end-to-end technological solutions for channel creation and works with A+E Networks UK, ABS-CBN, Astro, Cox Media Group, DAZN, Globo, Lionsgate Studio, NBCUniversal, Tastemade and VIZI.