Winning the Future of FAST: How Fuse Media Redefined CTV Through Innovation, Inclusion & Audience Growth

Session details:

OVERVIEW

Fuse Media, a leading minority-owned and NMSDC-certified media company, has established itself as one of the most innovative and agile participants in the convergent television landscape. Through rapid adoption of emerging technologies, disciplined expansion into FAST and CTV, and a flexible operational structure, Fuse Media has evolved from a legacy cable brand into a diversified media enterprise operating across CTV, FAST, SVOD, and social video environments.

In 2025, Fuse Media is achieving record levels of engagement. FAST viewership for its owned and operated channels is projected to exceed 5 billion minutes watched, and the third quarter of 2025 delivered the strongest performance in the company’s history. This momentum is driven by a growing portfolio of owned and operated multicultural FAST channels, including Shades of Black, El Rey Rebel, Latino Vibes, OUTtv Proud, Backstage, Acceso VIP, and Somos Novelas. These channels consistently introduce new viewers to culturally resonant storytelling driven by a deep understanding of audience identities, viewing habits, and content affinities.

The media landscape is transitioning toward full convergence, where the boundaries between streaming, legacy channels, digital platforms, and creator ecosystems are increasingly fluid. Scale is no longer achieved solely through broad distribution but through cultural relevance, operational agility, and perceptive understanding of audience identity and behavior. Fuse Media’s evolution demonstrates how modern media organizations serving diverse audiences can lead industry transformation at scale.

This proposed session will examine the foundational decisions, partnerships, insights, and innovations that have positioned Fuse Media at the forefront of the convergent television landscape.

MONETIZATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND GROWTH ACROSS CTV, FAST, AND SVOD

Fuse Media operates a multi-channel monetization strategy spanning FAST, CTV, SVOD, branded entertainment, and creator-led content. This strategy is supported by a sophisticated, unified framework that integrates advanced advertising solutions, operational excellence, channel management expertise, strategic partnerships, deep audience intelligence, and diversified revenue models across its entire ecosystem. As a result, Fuse Media has become a premier partner for brands, studios, creators, and platforms seeking to strengthen their presence in the streaming universe.

A central element of Fuse Media’s growth is the Culture Collective which consolidates audiences across more than 30 premium CTV channels. Through the Culture Collective, strategic partnerships with Lionsgate, Tastemade, Trusted Media Brands, Hartbeat, and Gunpowder & Sky provide advertisers with access to more than 85% of multicultural U.S. households. This enables Fuse Media to deliver scale and cultural precision unmatched by most independent media organizations serving young Gen Z and Millennial audiences.

The Culture Collective is supported by a sophisticated demand facilitation and Ad Operations infrastructure. Fuse Media’s national sales team maintains strong relationships with video investment groups, multicultural desks, programmatic teams, and trading desks across all major agencies and holding companies, reinforced by the company’s heritage in premium video and national advertising. Demand is augmented by small and mid-sized business participation through FreeWheel’s Universal Ads platform, as well as connectivity across every major DSP and SSP. More than 250 demand partners transact across Direct IO, Programmatic Guaranteed, Private Marketplace, Open Marketplace, and agency-level deals, further expanding Fuse Media’s monetization footprint.

Contextual relevance and advanced decisioning are supported through integrations with IRIS and additional contextual intelligence providers, while Fuse Media’s Ad Operations teams use FreeWheel as the primary ad server with complementary connections to SpringServe and Publica for optimized delivery, reduced latency, and operational resilience. A vetted partnership with The Trade Desk makes it possible to sell exclusive supply, enabling premium access for high-intent buyers. Audience targeting is elevated through FreeWheel’s Audience Manager, which unlocks more than 150 thousand segments from leading data providers to reach highly specific viewer cohorts within the multicultural marketplace.

Beyond advertising and demand, Fuse Media’s monetization model is strengthened by its expertise in FAST channel management, operations, and creative services. As the FAST ecosystem has expanded, many content providers and brands have struggled to maintain consistent audience traction. Fuse Media is increasingly sought out to revitalize these channels and convert them into sustainable revenue generators. Partners have experienced up to four times viewership growth under Fuse Media’s management, a result of the company’s disciplined programming strategy, creative licensing deals, and strong platform relationships.

Fuse Media’s channel management capabilities include leading distribution efforts, managing full-service platform relationships, formatting content to meet platform specifications, ensuring compliance and standards and practices across all partners, and optimizing content presentation through end-credit reduction and automated tagging. These workflows are supported by a proprietary digital asset management system designed to streamline metadata, licensing, and delivery processes at scale.

Operational excellence extends to standardized asset-level metadata, unified key art workflows, efficient channel deliveries offered at cost-effective rates, and responsive issue resolution across all platform partners. This operational rigor ensures that channels perform consistently and meet technical standards across the CTV and FAST ecosystem.

Branding and creative capabilities further enhance monetization and viewer engagement. Fuse Media develops and elevates channel branding and visual identity, ensuring consistency across all distribution environments. Creative teams produce promotional assets, channel art, and graphics designed to increase audience retention and deepen brand recognition. Marketing support includes materials for stunts, seasonal programming, and B2B communications, while sponsorship opportunities and elevated pitch materials help maximize revenue potential. Social media assets extend each channel’s presence beyond the viewing environment and support cohesive brand integration across all touchpoints.

Subscription growth for Fuse+ is supported through targeted promotional offers, including seasonal subscription incentives. Revenue share agreements and strategic licensing arrangements strengthen the company’s position within the SVOD environment while expanding distribution for premium content.

Together, these interconnected capabilities form a monetization engine defined by scale, operational excellence, cultural insight, and measurable impact. Fuse Media’s expertise in advertising, channel strategy, and creative brand-building supports not only its owned and operated portfolio but also partners seeking to transform underperforming FAST assets into high-growth channels aligned with the expectations of today’s multicultural young audiences.

CONTENT STRATEGY ROOTED IN CULTURAL INSIGHT AND OPERATIONAL RIGOR

Fuse Media’s content strategy prioritizes high-quality multicultural storytelling supported by disciplined acquisition, licensing, and distribution practices supported by meaningful partnerships. The company collaborates with leading studios and independent, multicultural content providers to curate high-quality, culturally relevant programming that aligns with the preferences of young Gen Z and Millennial viewers.

Programming, scheduling and content curation are guided by sophisticated audience intelligence generated by Fuse Media’s Business Intelligence team, including detailed day-part rankers that inform curation, strengthen engagement, and reveal distinct viewing behaviors within multicultural audience segments.  These insights guide strategy across CTV, FAST, and SVOD platforms and ensure that programming aligns with the documented behaviors of multicultural audiences. Additionally, Fuse Media continues to explore new formats and technologies, including short-form narratives, microdramas, and early AI-assisted production workflows to support development efficiency and allow Fuse Media to respond quickly to cultural trends.

INTEGRATING EMERGING CREATOR PARTNERSHIPS INTO A PREMIUM STREAMING ENVIRONMENT

Fuse Media is cultivating a sustainable creator-led content segment that supports long-term growth across its streaming platforms. While still emerging, this segment is demonstrating meaningful momentum. Fuse+ features creator-driven series from Big Freedia, Weezy and KevOnStage, whose work spans both original programming and exclusive catalog titles. These partnerships extend creator content into mainstream streaming environments through both DTC and reseller distribution models.

Fuse Media’s creator-led content strategy complements its broader programming portfolio, reflecting strategic collaboration rather than volume-based creator programming.

Through the Fuse Media Talent Network, more than 100 creators and hosts are available to support partnerships with advertisers and enhance the company’s ability to represent diverse voices authentically. This ecosystem also empowers collaborative storytelling initiatives, including social-first content developed with creators, which extends engagement across digital communities as well as branded storytelling opportunities.

PROFITHUB AS A MODEL FOR MISSION-DRIVEN INNOVATION

ProfitHub, developed with the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, illustrates Fuse Media’s ability to respond to the needs of young Gen Z and Millennial audiences with purpose-driven content. Rooted in the creator economy, ProfitHub features trusted financial creators including Ross Mac, Yanely Espinal, Chris Browning, and Dariany Santana. Content focuses on essential topics such as saving, debt, credit, and investing and is designed to encourage real-world action among underserved viewers.

The initiative launches at a critical moment. Fewer than half of young adults can answer basic financial literacy questions correctly, the majority express a desire for stability, and nearly 80% seek financial guidance through social and streaming platforms. ProfitHub leverages modular, multi-platform format strategies and is positioned to reach more than 74 million monthly unique viewers through Million Stories, ProfitHub social channels, and Fuse Media’s extensive CTV distribution.

ProfitHub enhances Fuse Media’s role in shaping the creator economy and provides brands with new pathways to partner with purpose.

AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE GUIDED BY CULTURAL INSIGHT

Fuse Media’s approach to viewer experience emphasizes a deep understanding of multicultural audiences and their content consumption behaviors. Through proprietary data and the use of tools such as MRI Simmons and bespoke survey research, the company identifies viewing patterns, content affinities, and cultural drivers that inform curation across CTV, FAST, and SVOD platforms.

This audience-centric framework supports subscriber acquisition and retention on Fuse+, enhances engagement across FAST and CTV, and ensures content discovery reflects the values and interests of young, diverse consumers. 

FAST AS A CORNERSTONE OF FUSE MEDIA’S EXPANSION

Fuse Media has been a pioneer in the FAST space since launching its first FAST channel in 2018. The company continues to deliver programming diversity and audience momentum that significantly outperform industry norms.

Fuse Media’s owned and operated FAST channels continue to deliver record-setting performance. Shades of Black grew 32% year over year, El Rey Rebel celebrated it’s best quarter ever up 37% vs Q3 2024, Latino Vibes also saw growth with 45% increase in comparison to 2024, and OUTtv Proud reached its highest viewership to date. These channels are strengthened by curated viewing experiences, seasonal stunts, evergreen marathons, and strategic scheduling informed by real-time BI insights.

ADVERTISING INNOVATION FUELED BY TECHNOLOGY, DATA, AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

Fuse Media’s advertising offering integrates sophisticated audience and contextual targeting supported by FreeWheel Audience Manager. Fuse Business Intelligence provides detailed category insights, brand lift studies, viewer surveys, and performance analytics that guide campaign strategy.

Creative innovation is a priority across the ecosystem. Efforts include interactive ad units, graphic overlays, in-stream experiences, and performance-driven formats that align with viewer expectations across CTV environments. Universal Ads, Fuse Media’s self-serve platform, expands access to premium video for small and medium-sized businesses.

CONCLUSION

Fuse Media’s rise in the CTV and FAST ecosystem demonstrates the effectiveness of a flexible operating model grounded in cultural understanding, strategic partnerships, and rapid innovation. The company’s evolution from legacy cable brand into a convergent media leader provides a compelling blueprint for navigating the future of streaming.

Through our hands on experience and understanding of the industry we  can provide attendees a perspective on how Fuse Media’s insights, partnerships, and technological investments are shaping the next phase of multi-platform entertainment.