FAST Channels Are Jukeboxes Today. AI DJs Could Rewrite the Format.

We’ve maxed out distribution. Now it’s time to make the viewing experience memorable and personal.

This essay was contributed by Hiram Norman. Hiram is a former Warner Bros. & CW digital leader helping media brands grow audience, revenue & reach through product innovation and digital transformation. Still chasing what’s next on the digital frontier.

After the Gold Rush

FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) is no longer the new frontier. The channel grid is crowded with thousands of channels. What once felt like a gold rush now resembles a recycling center — endless loops of old series.

Audiences feel the hollowness. Good libraries and big names can’t hide when a channel has no pulse.

What’s missing is real curation and experience. Fortunately, AI can help you bring your channel to life.

Voice, Context, and Storytelling Matter

The strongest FAST channels don’t just fill airtime — they create experiences. They have a point of view. They offer context. They treat even familiar content as something worth framing.

This doesn’t require big production budgets. It requires editorial intent, and yes, AI to help scale that intent across time slots and programming blocks.

Framing a 20-year-old episode with a line like “This was Bradley Cooper’s first TV role” or “This scene would later inspire a major fan theory” gives viewers a reason to stay. Tools like GPT-4 and Claude can help generate that context from episode metadata and descriptions. If you’re working with sensitive IP, locally-run models like GPT4All can do the job without leaving your servers.

Linear Doesn’t Have to Mean Passive

FAST is still a linear format, but that doesn’t mean it has to be passive. The biggest mistake programmers make is treating mid-episode entry as inevitable rather than an opportunity.

Short recaps. Themed blocks. Bumpers that hint at what’s next. These are signals that shape behavior. They turn lean-back into lean-in.

And small teams can pull this off. GPT-generated recaps, AI-assisted voiceovers, or thematic groupings can be layered on top of existing episodes. It’s not about making new shows. It’s about reshaping how existing ones are experienced — something that used to require entire departments, now achievable with a lean team and the right tools.

Look Outside the FAST Ecosystem for Inspiration

Other platforms are doing this work already:

• Spotify’s AI DJ lightly narrates music playlists, making automation feel personal.

• Criterion Channel elevates its catalog with filmmaker intros and editorial framing.

• YouTube and TikTok creators constantly remix archival content into new experiences.

• Noovie uses trivia and talent interviews to keep audiences engaged in theaters.

FAST doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. It just needs to borrow from smart examples — and apply them with creative purpose.

Brand Isn’t Just a Logo

Within platform constraints, FAST channels can still build brand memory and viewer loyalty.

Editorial voice is key. It’s the connective tissue between episodes, shows, and formats.

That could mean:

• A consistent narrator tone

• Distinct visual language for programming blocks

• Consistent nods to your broader brand ecosystem

It doesn’t have to be heavy-handed. Consistency, clarity, and care are what make a channel feel authored and worth returning to.

Creative Thinking Is Strategic Thinking

FAST has lived most of its short life inside spreadsheets. Now’s the time to bring more creatives into the room. Ask better questions, create an experience:

What’s the energy of this block? What should the viewer feel next? Where does this land emotionally? Do we need a host? Does that host need to be human? How are we incorporating holidays and eventizing our catalog series?

This is where AI becomes a creative partner. The tools exist. What’s needed is the shift in mindset: from filling time to shaping experience.

The Role of AI in Creative Programming

AI’s value isn’t in replacing human taste. It’s in removing bottlenecks that prevent creative teams from scaling their ideas. It allows a small team to make a big impact.

• Use GPT-4, Claude or GPT4All for scripting intros and bumpers.

• Experiment with Runway, Pika, or other visual tools for branding and block packaging.

• Add Temp VO with ElevenLabs or similar tools to create consistency and tone.

Smartly using tools can allow for real channel storytelling and curation.

The Bottom Line

The FAST boom rewarded scale and speed. As the space matures, it’s time to reward viewers with taste and intention.

Channels that feel programmed by people will have the opportunity to stand out. You don’t need more content. You need to care more about how it’s presented.

When everyone else is building playlists, your channels should stand out with the feel of a hosted DJ.