Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called TV Land. In TV Land, there were two major kingdoms: Linear TV and FAST TV. Linear TV was ruled by King Broadcast, who had been in power for decades. FAST TV, on the other hand, was a young and dynamic kingdom that had recently emerged as a contender for the throne.
King Broadcast was a wise and experienced king who had ruled over Linear TV for many years. His kingdom was known for its editorially managed channels, where content was carefully curated, and schedules were planned months in advance. The channels were delivered to viewers through a variety of platforms, including satellite, cable, and IPTV. The people of TV Land had grown up with Linear TV and had come to love its familiar programs and comfortable routines.
But King Broadcast had a challenger. In the neighboring kingdom of FAST TV, there was a young and ambitious prince named Stream. Stream had inherited the kingdom from his father, who had been one of the first to recognize the potential of ad-supported free TV. Stream was different from King Broadcast. He was a risk-taker and an innovator. He was always looking for new ways to attract viewers and advertisers.
Stream had built his kingdom on the idea of FAST TV – Free Ad-Supported TV. He believed that viewers were tired of paying for TV and that they would be willing to watch ads if it meant they could access great content for free. His kingdom was made up of a collection of channels, each with a different theme or genre. Some of the channels were pre-recorded, while others were live. But all of them were available to viewers for free, with ads inserted into ad breaks.
The people of TV Land were divided in their loyalties. Some loved the familiar routines of Linear TV and saw no reason to switch to FAST TV. Others were curious about the new kingdom and eager to try out its free content. But there were also many who were confused by the differences between the two kingdoms. They wondered if FAST TV was just a collection of AVOD playlists or if it was a true competitor to Linear TV.
One day, King Broadcast decided to call a meeting of his council to discuss the challenge of FAST TV. He summoned his wisest advisors and asked them to help him understand the differences between the two kingdoms.
The council met in the great hall of the palace, where King Broadcast sat at the head of the table. His advisors sat on either side, looking grave and serious. The first advisor to speak was a man named Simon, who was an expert in media and advertising.
“Your Majesty,” said Simon, “the primary difference between Linear TV and FAST TV is the way they are delivered to viewers. Linear TV is delivered through a variety of platforms, including satellite, cable, and IPTV. FAST TV, on the other hand, is delivered through OTT – Over-The-Top – platforms, which are internet-based.”
King Broadcast nodded thoughtfully. “I see,” he said. “So, viewers can access FAST TV on their computers, smartphones, and streaming devices?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Simon. “And because it is delivered over the internet, it is easier for viewers to access and for advertisers to target specific audiences.”
The second advisor to speak was a woman named Mary, who was an expert in programming and scheduling.
“Your Majesty,” said Mary, “another key difference between Linear TV and FAST TV is the way content is managed. Linear TV is editorially managed, which means that content is carefully curated and scheduled in advance. FAST TV, on the other hand, is more personalized. Viewers can choose the channels they want to watch and the content they want to see. They can even create their own playlists.”
King Broadcast furrowed his brow. “But how does that affect the quality of the content?” he asked.
Mary smiled. “That’s the thing, Your Majesty. Because FAST TV is more personalized, the content is more targeted and relevant to each individual viewer. It’s a more customized viewing experience.”
The third advisor to speak was a man named James, who was an expert in technology and innovation.
“Your Majesty,” said James, “one of the most significant differences between Linear TV and FAST TV is the way advertising is delivered. In Linear TV, advertising is delivered in set ad breaks, and viewers have no choice but to watch them. In FAST TV, advertising is more flexible. Advertisers can insert ads into content or provide interactive ads that viewers can choose to engage with.”
King Broadcast leaned forward. “That’s interesting,” he said. “So, advertisers can tailor their ads to specific audiences and make them more engaging?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” said James. “And because FAST TV is delivered over the internet, advertisers can also collect data on viewer behavior and preferences, which they can use to improve their targeting and messaging.”
King Broadcast leaned back in his chair and pondered what he had learned. He realized that FAST TV was not just a collection of AVOD playlists, but a true competitor to Linear TV. He knew that he would have to adapt to the changing landscape of TV Land if he wanted to remain in power.
“Thank you, my advisors,” he said finally. “You have given me much to think about. We will need to explore new ways of delivering content and advertising if we want to remain relevant in this fast-changing world.”
With that, King Broadcast dismissed the council and retired to his chambers to consider the future of his kingdom. He knew that he would need to be more innovative and agile if he wanted to stay ahead of the competition. But he was determined to do whatever it took to keep Linear TV on the throne of TV Land.
