FAST Founder Allen Wolk: "K-Content Is the Key to Attracting Younger Audiences" [FAST Report]

As the Korean Wave fandom expands, demand is rising
Key to establishing FAST in Korea: copyright management and content contracts

Allen Wolk, co-founder of TVREV in the United States and media journalist [Korea Creative Content Agency]

FAST is a streaming platform that provides content for free in exchange for viewers watching advertisements. Unlike OTT services, there are no subscription fees. The concept was first introduced in 2018 by Allen Wolk, co-founder of TVREV in the United States and a media journalist. Not long after its actual implementation, FAST quickly grew to rival OTT platforms in terms of influence.

Wolk, whom we met at the '2025 International Broadcasting and Media Market (BCWW)', confidently stated that the influence of FAST will continue to grow. "This is not just a story about North America and Europe. The share of FAST is increasing even in regions with less economic capacity," he explained. "In fact, in some African countries, the market structure has been reorganized around FAST." He added, "OTT services place a heavy burden on users due to subscription fees. Not everyone has sufficient income. Therefore, FAST, which provides content in exchange for watching ads, will inevitably become more important."

―What inspired you to first come up with the concept of FAST?

"In the United States, there were examples such as Hulu, which is subscription-based but includes ads, and Pluto, which is free but requires viewers to watch ads. Seeing this, I thought, 'What about free streaming based on advertising?' and coined the English acronym FAST. At first, it was just an idea, but as the pandemic forced people to spend more time at home, demand grew and the term naturally took hold."

Allen Wolk, co-founder of TVREV in the United States and media journalist [Korea Creative Content Agency]

―Why is the main user base for FAST in North America and Europe primarily middle-aged and older adults?

"In the early days, most FAST content consisted of reruns, especially TV series from the 1970s to 1990s, which required relatively low production costs. Middle-aged and older adults, who are accustomed to using TV as background entertainment, naturally gravitated toward it. I believe that in Korea as well, using the tile-based interface of Samsung and LG smart TVs could attract a similar demographic with the same strategy."

―What are the differences in advertising services between YouTube and FAST?

"YouTube mainly features user-generated content, while FAST is dominated by content produced by Hollywood and commercial studios. Although the boundaries have become somewhat blurred recently, the types of content and viewing experiences are fundamentally different. On YouTube, ads can often be skipped, but on FAST, advertisements are mandatory."

―Would K-pop and K-drama be effective incentives to attract younger audiences?

"Korean Wave content is having a significant impact in North America. In particular, programs related to K-pop idols, such as 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' have even ranked number one in viewership on Netflix. Korean language classes and Korean restaurants are also popular in many countries. Given the rapid expansion of the Korean Wave fandom, there is clearly high demand."

―What efforts are needed to maximize advertising revenue?

"Targeting technology must be improved. For example, advertisements for relevant products should be shown to sports fans, and more customized ads should be delivered based on geographic and climate characteristics. By utilizing customer purchase history and location information, as Amazon does, companies can improve ad efficiency and increase profits through personalized advertising."

Allen Wolk, co-founder of TVREV in the United States and media journalist [Korea Creative Content Agency]

―Netflix has also introduced an ad-supported plan. How is this affecting FAST?

"In the United States, if the difference in subscription fees is not significant, consumers are willing to pay more for an ad-free service. This makes it difficult for Netflix to encroach on FAST's territory. Of course, in countries with lower economic capacity, such as Mexico and Brazil, there is also strong demand for ad-supported services."

―What needs to be done for FAST to become established in Korea?

"The key is smooth copyright management. It is necessary to use AI to manage copyrights or to sign contracts with many content providers from the beginning to accelerate expansion. In fact, Tubi in the United States has attracted new audiences by securing content in a variety of areas, including children's programming, sports, politics, and YouTube."

―Are there cases where content providers use FAST as a bridge to paid subscriptions?

"Yes. For example, if season 1 of 'Breaking Bad' is released on FAST, viewers who become interested may watch subsequent seasons on a paid platform. This flow, which starts with free, ad-supported content and gradually leads to paid subscriptions, has become a successful model in North America and Europe."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.