Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×
Television

Amazon Launches a Fire TV Channels App With 400+ Free Ad-Supported TV Channels (techcrunch.com) 30

Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Channels app, giving Fire TV customers access to over 400 free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels, including ABC News, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, MLB, Martha Stewart and more. From a report: Alongside the app launch, the company also announced new content providers, such as Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, GameSpot, Looper and Funny or Die, among others. Amazon will continue adding more FAST channels over time, the company wrote in the press release. First introduced in May, Fire TV Channels are available on Fire TV-branded smart TVs and streaming devices. The new app offers a single destination for users to quickly access thousands of live and on-demand titles across sports, news, entertainment, cooking, gaming and more. Customers can find the Fire TV Channels app via the "Your Apps and Channels" section, the Free icon in the navigation bar or labeled content rows throughout the Fire TV user interface. They also can ask Alexa to "Play Fire TV Channels." No downloads are required to watch FAST channels on Fire TV.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Amazon Launches a Fire TV Channels App With 400+ Free Ad-Supported TV Channels

Comments Filter:
  • I take it this is USA only? Not for Europe or Canada?

  • a Kindle Fire?

  • Does it work on a Roku?

  • This is like broadcast TV except the ads are targeted I'm guessing? Because the FANG corps are so good at putting relevant ads in front of people's faces /s I actually subscribed to youtube (premium?) accidentally when I got a new phone, and I'm glad I did because I don't need to see any more ads for insurance I don't need or big girl diapers or to ask my doctor about a drug that treats a condition I've never heard of.
    • by CAIMLAS ( 41445 )

      Pretty much. I'm 100% done with ad-supported media at this point. Life is too short to watch a corporate jingle designed as both propaganda and advertisement. They're more odious to me now than the "classic jingles" in Demolition Man were.

      The promise of targeted, relevant ads is apparently something that's fallen by the wayside.

      Amazon more-or-less manages to do a decent job of that with their own ads targeting their own platform, but for anything not related to a physical item sale, the online ad experience

    • I really don't get why you pay 10$+ / month for youtube premium when installing adblock for free (which takes about 5s once ... which is faster than subscribing) and that would get you exactly the same benefit ...
      • I consume most of my Youtube content on a large Samsung TV - I've yet to find a solution that blocks the ads - so I pay for premium. However, if anyone can point me in the right direction then I will happily stop paying.

        • Firefox for Android + chromecast.l dongle.

          You can cast your Android device screen to the CC. Including YouTube playing inside Firefox, full screen.
          Works with CC audio too if you want to listen to music clips without viewing.

          • Casting is a terrible interface: there's a reason why no one uses their phone as a replacement for the remote control.

            Being able to use an ordinary remote is easily worth $10/month.

            • by madbrain ( 11432 )

              That's clearly in the eye of the beholder. For the amount of Youtube I listen to/watch, casting is fine. I would not pay the $10/month, and if I had to, would just stop watching/listening to Youtube. Besides, Youtube premium doesn't solve the problem for listening to YT videos on a Chromecast audio device (and I have 15 of those). Only FF with adblocker + device audio casting solves that.

  • by Anonymous Coward

    "Free" used to mean "no strings attached". Don't let them redefine "free" like this.

    • Broadcast TV was always free, it just included commercials - how is this redefining that tradition?

    • by Tablizer ( 95088 )

      If ad-based web-TV were viable, then other entertainment sites would be doing it already. The fact it's uncommon suggests it's not economical. This implies Amazon is subsidizing it to get market share, and then later will start charging. Bait-n-Hook.

  • by cascadingstylesheet ( 140919 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2023 @03:18PM (#63788704) Journal
    I know ... let's make it more reliable and not even need an internet connection! We could broadcast it wireless-ly straight to your home!
  • I never understood the point of advertising to the people who can't afford the ad-free service.

    • by RevRa ( 1728 )

      The point of advertising is to generate demand (want). The more you can influence people to want your product, the more of your product you're going to sell.

    • by kackle ( 910159 )
      Good point, however those who are broke are likely those who spend their money with less discretion.
  • It will stay 'ad free' just like your call is important to us, we won't cum in your moutj, and we will still respect you in the morning. The "telemetry" behind this is going to be quite a monster, I'm sure.

Brain off-line, please wait.

Working...