FAST channels hit a new high in 2025: MTM report

Here is a closer look at how the data breaks down across demographics and platforms.
By Patti Summerfield
November 17, 2025

A recent report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM) found that FAST channels have hit new highs in 2025 – viewing has nearly doubled since fall 2024, growing from 22% of online Canadians in fall 2024 to 41% in spring 2025.

The report focused on the growth of FAST channels in Canada and where they fit in the country’s broadcast landscape. Since FAST channels focus on scheduled content and are funded through ads, FAST channels are closer to linear over-the-air channels than streamers like Netflix or YouTube, according to MTM.

Looking at the demographics, the age of FAST channel viewers skew higher than other platforms, ranging from 50 to 64 (46%) and those in more affluent households with 50% earning $150K or more. Indigenous peoples are also more likely to use FAST channels (60%), as are racialized Canadians (50%). Anglophones (44%) are more likely to watch FAST content than Francophones (21%). Viewers are split along gender lines with male viewers (42%) slightly higher than female FAST viewers (39%).

There are four main FAST platforms that offer large libraries of content in Canada. Roku Channels is currently the most popular (11%) followed closely by Tubi (10%), Pluto TV (7%) and Samsung TV+ (4%). All four offer video-on-demand content in addition to FAST channel content. FAST channel usage ranges between 3% and 5% for all four platforms.

Middle aged and older Canadians are more likely to watch FAST channels than their younger and older counterparts. Many FAST platforms offer news content, which could be more of interest to these age cohorts, 21% of online anglophones watch the CBC News FAST Channel and 16% of online Francophones watch the Radio-Canada INFO FAST Channel.

FAST channel viewers are also big consumers of other content. They exceed non-FAST channel viewers in past-month viewing of AVOD and SVOD content, YouTube, and typical week viewership of linear TV content. They also report higher hours of viewing of these types of content in a typical week. Similar trends continue for usage of audio content such as audio streaming services like Spotify, podcasts, AM/FM radio and news.

FAST channel viewers are more likely to subscribe to both paid TV services (66% vs. 60%) and SVOD services (92% vs. 84%) than non-viewers. They are notably more likely to tune into audio content from audio streaming services (81%), to podcasts (63%) to AM/FM radio (72%).

Where FAST channel viewers and non-viewers are similar is in their use of most social media platforms. WhatsApp and TikTok have notably higher use among FAST viewers (37% vs. 22% for non-FAST viewers), while others like LinkedIn (30% vs 23%) and X/Twitter (21% vs 14%) are only slightly higher. Most other platforms are similar for both groups with use of Facebook at 71% vs. 70% and Instagram 49% vs. 47%.

The MTM, a product of CBC/Radio-Canada Research, incorporates a mixed-methodology approach which includes a phone survey and a follow-up survey online. Data for this report comes primarily from the Spring 2025 survey, unless otherwise noted.