• by Wayne Friedman , October 10, 2024

Joining the rush over new free-ad supported TV (FAST) platforms, DirecTV is launching MyFree DirecTV -- to be launched on November 15.

MyFree DirecTV will give users “curated” content, an on-demand library, and number of FAST “channels” as part of the launch.

These channels are typically focused on a specific program or program category.

In addition, MyFree DirecTV will also integrate program content from Your TV -- a service that DirecTV introduced earlier this year which puts content selections of a user’s most favorite programming on the screen immediately after theTV set is turned on.

Over the past few years, legacy TV media companies jumped quickly into growing FAST TV business as their TV networks have suffered from smaller audiences due to cord-cutting of traditional pay TV services. This includes cable TV operators as well as satellite TV platforms -- the latter of which companies like DirecTV had built a pay TV business.

DirecTV says MyFree DirecTV is entering a FAST marketplace that has grown to nearly $8 billion in the U.S. this year, virtually all from advertising revenues.

The MyFree DirecTV platform will include a number of FAST channels such as “The First 48,” “Storage Wars,” “Duck Dynasty,” “Ancient Aliens,” “Power,” “On Patrol: Live” and “American Pickers.”

The launch of MyFree DirecTV comes just days after DirecTV agreed to acquire competitor Dish Media, merging both companies satellite and internet-delivered pay TV operations.