TV Azteca: FAST channels drive 20% of international revenue
TV Azteca has significantly restructured its international business model, moving away from a reliance solely on traditional content licensing to a diversified revenue mix. The Mexican broadcaster revealed that its FAST division now generates 20% of its total international income, a rapidly growing segment that complements its established Pay TV and content sales operations.
According to the latest figures, the company’s international revenue is now split into three distinct verticals: 40% is derived from the traditional sale of loose content titles, another 40% comes from its portfolio of six Pay TV channels, and the remaining 20% is generated by its suite of 10 FAST channels.
The growth of the ad-supported streaming segment has been driven by a strategy of leveraging the broadcaster’s deep content library through specific segmentation. The most recent addition to this portfolio is a channel dedicated entirely to Exatlón, the survival reality competition that has proven to be a ratings driver on open television.
‘We are permanently exploring new business lines and opportunities’, said Jesica Stescobich, VP of International at TV Azteca. ‘In FAST we are standing out because we have a lot of content, and if good segmentations are built, the demand appears solid and quite prompt’.
While the company continues to exploit its catalogue of telenovelas and scripted series, the current strategy places a heavy emphasis on live entertainment and reality formats. The broadcaster is currently highlighting La Granja VIP (based on the Fremantle format The Farm), which has performed strongly on its domestic linear network.
Stescobich noted that the broadcaster’s strength lies in live programming and reality shows, producing a different major format for every day of the week. This volume allows the international division to offer not just finished products, but also expertise in unscripted production to global buyers.
‘We have a lot to offer in formats and unscripted expertise to the international market, apart from the traditional telenovelas and series’, added. ‘We seek to synergize the whole set and take it further’.
