The television industry has changed rapidly. Terms such as FAST, CTV, OTT, AVOD, SSAI, programmatic advertising and streaming television are now part of the everyday language of broadcasters, studios, content owners, advertisers and technology companies.
This glossary explains the key terminology used across the modern Streaming TV, FAST and CTV ecosystem.
A
Ad Break
A scheduled point within a television programme or channel where advertising is inserted. In Streaming TV, ad breaks can be dynamically filled with targeted advertising rather than relying solely on a fixed broadcast commercial.
Ad Fill Rate
The percentage of available advertising inventory that is successfully filled with an advertisement.
A higher fill rate generally means more of the available advertising inventory is monetized.
Ad Inventory
The available advertising opportunities within a television programme, channel or streaming service.
Inventory can include pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, display and other advertising formats.
Ad Pod
A group of advertisements played together during an advertising break, similar to a traditional television commercial break.
Ad Server
Technology responsible for deciding which advertisements should be delivered into available advertising inventory.
Addressable Advertising
Advertising that allows different households or viewers to receive different advertisements during the same programme or channel.
AVOD
Advertising-Based Video on Demand.
A video-on-demand service where viewers can watch content without paying a subscription, with the service generating revenue through advertising.
Examples can include ad-supported libraries, movies, television episodes and short-form content.
C
CTV
Connected TV.
A television connected to the internet that allows viewers to access streaming services and digital television content.
CTV can include Smart TVs, connected streaming devices, game consoles and other internet-connected television equipment.
CTV Advertising
Advertising delivered to audiences through connected television environments.
CTV advertising can combine the large-screen experience of traditional television with digital targeting, measurement and campaign optimization.
CTV Platform
A service, operating system, application or distribution environment through which television content is delivered to connected television audiences.
CTV Distribution
The process of making television channels or video content available across connected-TV platforms and devices.
CTV Monetization
The process of generating revenue from audiences viewing television content through connected-TV environments.
Revenue can come from advertising, subscriptions, transactions, sponsorships, licensing or combinations of these models.
CTV Playbook
A strategic framework covering the technology, distribution, advertising, audience and monetization components required to operate in the connected television ecosystem.
Channel
A branded stream of scheduled television programming.
In Streaming TV, a channel can operate as a traditional linear television service while being delivered through internet-connected devices.
Channel Distribution
The process of making a television channel available across third-party platforms, applications, Smart TVs, streaming devices and other distribution outlets.
Channel Playout
The technology and operational process used to assemble and deliver a scheduled television channel.
Playout can include programming, scheduling, graphics, advertising, metadata and content switching.
Content Monetization
The process of turning television, film or video content into revenue.
Monetization can involve advertising, subscriptions, licensing, sponsorship, transactions or other commercial models.
Content Owner
An individual, company, studio, broadcaster, producer or rights holder that owns or controls rights to television, film or video content.
Content Library
A collection of television programmes, films, episodes, clips or other video assets controlled by a content owner or distributor.
D
Demand-Side Platform (DSP)
Technology used by advertisers and agencies to purchase digital advertising inventory, often programmatically.
Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI)
Technology that allows advertisements to be dynamically inserted into video content at the time of viewing.
DAI can allow different viewers, households or geographic areas to receive different advertising.
Dynamic Ad Replacement
The replacement of an existing advertisement or commercial break with another advertisement based on audience, geography, campaign or other criteria.
E
FAST
Free Ad-Supported Television.
FAST generally refers to free, ad-supported streaming television services offering scheduled, linear-style channels over internet-connected devices.
FAST channels can resemble traditional television channels, with programmes scheduled into a continuous stream and advertising used to generate revenue.
FAST Channel
A linear streaming television channel delivered over the internet and monetized primarily through advertising.
FAST channels may be operated by broadcasters, studios, content owners, brands, platforms or independent channel operators.
FAST Platform
A service or distribution platform that aggregates and delivers FAST channels to viewers.
FAST Aggregator
A platform that brings multiple FAST channels together into a single destination or television interface.
FAST Distribution
The process of making FAST channels available across streaming platforms, Smart TVs, connected devices and other digital television environments.
FAST Revenue Share
The commercial arrangement under which advertising revenue generated by a FAST channel is divided between the parties involved in content ownership, distribution, technology, advertising and platform operations.
FAST Next Generation
A term used to describe newer approaches to streaming television that focus on improving the economics, presentation, distribution and monetization of traditional FAST models.
H
Hours Viewed
The total number of hours audiences spend watching a television channel or video service.
Hours Viewed can be used as a core audience and monetization metric for streaming television.
HOV
Hours of Viewing.
A measurement of the amount of time audiences spend consuming video content.
I
Insertion Order (IO)
A formal advertising agreement specifying campaign details such as advertiser, dates, inventory, pricing, targeting and delivery requirements.
Inventory
See Ad Inventory.
L
Linear Television
Television programming presented according to a scheduled sequence, where viewers watch programmes as they are broadcast.
Linear television can be delivered through traditional broadcast networks, cable, satellite or the internet.
Live Streaming
The real-time delivery of video content over the internet.
Live streaming can include live television channels, sports, news, events and entertainment.
Local CTV
Connected-TV distribution or advertising targeted to specific geographic markets, cities, regions or local audiences.
Localized Advertising
Advertising customized or targeted according to a viewer’s geographic location or market.
M
Mid-Roll
An advertisement or advertising break inserted during a video programme.
Metadata
Information describing a piece of television or video content, including title, description, genre, cast, episode information, artwork and scheduling data.
MVPD
Multichannel Video Programming Distributor.
A company that provides multiple television channels to consumers, traditionally through cable, satellite or other distribution networks.
FAST MVPD
A digital or streaming service that aggregates television channels and provides them through an internet-connected environment.
O
OTT
Over-the-Top.
The delivery of video content over the internet without requiring the viewer to receive that content through a traditional cable or satellite television service.
OTT includes streaming services, applications and online video platforms.
OTT Platform
A platform that delivers video content directly over the internet.
OTT Distribution
The process of delivering television and video content through internet-based platforms rather than traditional broadcast, cable or satellite infrastructure.
P
Programmatic Advertising
The automated buying and selling of digital advertising inventory using technology and data.
Programmatic CTV advertising can allow advertisers to target specific audiences and markets while measuring campaign delivery.
Pre-Roll
An advertisement played before a video programme begins.
Post-Roll
An advertisement played after a video programme ends.
Premium Content
Television programmes, films or other video assets positioned around factors such as production quality, audience demand, exclusivity, recognizable talent or intellectual property.
Playout
See Channel Playout.
R
Reach
The number of unique viewers, households or devices exposed to a television programme, channel or advertising campaign.
Revenue Per Mille (RPM)
Revenue generated per 1,000 units of an agreed measurement.
In streaming environments, RPM may be calculated using different underlying metrics, so the definition should always be clearly specified.
Revenue Share
A commercial model in which revenue generated from content or advertising is divided between participating parties according to an agreed percentage.
S
SSAI
Server-Side Ad Insertion.
Technology that inserts advertising into a video stream on the server side before or during delivery to the viewer.
SSAI can create a more seamless television-like advertising experience.
SSP
Supply-Side Platform.
Technology used by publishers and content owners to manage and sell digital advertising inventory to advertisers and demand-side platforms.
Streaming Television
Television delivered through internet-connected devices rather than exclusively through traditional broadcast, cable or satellite systems.
Streaming Television can include both linear channels and on-demand programming.
SVOD
Subscription Video on Demand.
A video service where viewers pay a recurring subscription to access content.
FAST vs Streaming Television
FAST generally describes a specific free, advertising-supported approach to delivering scheduled linear channels.
Streaming Television is a broader term encompassing linear streaming channels, on-demand services, advertising-supported services, subscription services and other internet-delivered television experiences.
Simulcast
The simultaneous distribution of the same television programming through multiple distribution methods or platforms.
T
TVOD
Transactional Video on Demand.
A model where viewers pay for individual pieces of content, such as renting or purchasing a movie.
Targeting
The process of selecting particular audiences, households, geographic areas or demographic groups for advertising campaigns.
Television Everywhere
A model allowing customers of a traditional television provider to access television programming through internet-connected devices.
V
VOD
Video on Demand.
Video content that viewers can select and watch at a time of their choosing rather than according to a fixed linear schedule.
AVOD
Advertising-supported Video on Demand.
SVOD
Subscription Video on Demand.
TVOD
Transactional Video on Demand.
FAST
Free Ad-Supported Television, generally focused on scheduled linear channels.
W
Watch Time
The amount of time audiences spend watching video content.
Watch time is one of the most important measurements in digital video because audience time can translate into advertising inventory and content revenue.
Watermarking
Technology used to embed identifiable information into video content for purposes such as security, tracking, rights management or content protection.
FAST & CTV: The Bigger Picture
The modern television ecosystem is no longer divided simply between broadcast television and streaming.
Today, content can move through a complex ecosystem involving:
Content Owners → Studios → Channel Operators → Playout → Distribution Platforms → CTV Devices → Viewers → Advertisers
The challenge is no longer simply getting content onto a streaming platform. The commercial opportunity increasingly depends on distribution, audience reach, viewing time, advertising demand and monetization working together.
FAST Is Not the Same as CTV
FAST and CTV are often used interchangeably, but they describe different parts of the ecosystem.
FAST describes an ad-supported television business and delivery model.
CTV describes the connected television environment through which content and advertising are consumed.
OTT describes the delivery of video over the internet.
Streaming TV describes the broader television experience delivered through internet-connected platforms.
Understanding these distinctions is important for content owners, broadcasters, studios, advertisers and technology providers building the next generation of television.