A clear explanation of OTT, CTV, and FAST: what each term means, how they overlap, and how broadcasters should think about all three together.
OTT vs CTV vs FAST: What's the Difference?
By Sampath Mallidi, CEO of Revidd · Last updated June 2026
OTT, CTV, and FAST get used interchangeably, but they describe different things: a delivery method, a device category, and a channel model. Mixing them up leads to confused strategy. Here is the clear distinction.
OTT is how content is delivered (over the internet, bypassing cable), CTV is what it is watched on (an internet-connected television), and FAST is a type of channel (free, ad-supported, and linear). They are not competing options; a single FAST channel is OTT content often watched on CTV. The terms describe different layers of the same ecosystem.
What Is OTT?
OTT (Over-The-Top) is the delivery of video content over the internet, "over the top" of traditional cable and satellite, directly to viewers. It is a delivery method, not a device or a business model. Netflix, a broadcaster's branded app, and a FAST channel are all OTT because they reach viewers over the internet rather than through a cable box.
OTT is the broadest of the three terms. It covers on-demand and live, free and paid, on any device.
What Is CTV?
CTV (Connected TV) is a television connected to the internet that can stream video, either a smart TV (Samsung, LG, Vizio) or a TV with a streaming device attached (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast). It is a device category, defined by where viewing happens, not how content is delivered or monetized.
CTV matters because it is the living-room screen. Content delivered via OTT and watched on a CTV device is the fastest-growing way audiences consume streaming, which is why broadcasters prioritize native apps on these devices. US CTV ad spend reached $33.35 billion in 2025 and is on track to pass traditional TV ad spend by 2028, according to eMarketer. The audience and the money are both moving to the connected screen.
What Is FAST?
FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) is a type of channel: linear, scheduled, free to viewers, and funded by advertising. It is a content and business model, not a delivery method or a device. A FAST channel is delivered via OTT and most often watched on CTV. For a full explanation, see our guide on what a FAST channel is.
How Do OTT, CTV, and FAST Fit Together?
They describe three different layers, so they combine rather than compete:
Term | What it describes | Example |
|---|---|---|
OTT | Delivery method (over the internet) | A broadcaster's streaming app |
CTV | Device (internet-connected TV) | Roku, Apple TV, Samsung smart TV |
FAST | Channel model (free, linear, ad-supported) | A 24/7 themed channel on Roku |
If you specifically want the free-linear-vs-paid-on-demand comparison, that is a different question covered in our guide to FAST vs traditional OTT; this page is about what the three terms mean and how they fit. A single sentence ties them together: a FAST channel (model) is delivered via OTT (method) and watched on CTV (device). A broadcaster does not choose between them; a complete strategy uses all three, OTT delivery, CTV device coverage, and FAST as one of several channel and monetization models alongside on-demand and live.
Why Do People Confuse OTT, CTV, and FAST?
The confusion comes from how often the three overlap in one viewing session. When someone watches a free linear channel on a Roku, all three terms apply at once: FAST is the channel, OTT is the delivery, CTV is the device. Because they show up together, people treat them as synonyms.
The fix is to remember which layer each term names:
OTT answers how the content reaches the viewer (over the internet).
CTV answers where the viewer watches (an internet-connected TV).
FAST answers what kind of channel and business model it is (free, linear, ad-supported).
Two more terms get pulled into the same mix. AVOD (ad-supported on-demand) is not the same as FAST: AVOD is on-demand and FAST is scheduled and linear, though both are ad-funded. SSAI (server-side ad insertion) and SCTE-35 are the ad-stitching standards that make FAST and AVOD monetizable, not separate categories of streaming. If you want the monetization side broken down, see our explainer on SVOD vs AVOD vs TVOD.
What Does This Mean for Broadcasters?
The practical takeaway from the OTT vs CTV vs FAST question is that you should plan across all three layers, not pick one. Deliver your content via OTT, make sure it runs natively on CTV devices where the living-room audience watches, and use FAST as one monetization model alongside subscription and on-demand. A platform that covers OTT delivery, native CTV apps, and FAST channels together lets you do this from one place. Revidd delivers VOD, live, and FAST over OTT from one integration to 50+ endpoints, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, iOS, Android, and web, with SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD monetization in the same platform. Today it reaches 38M+ viewers across 15 countries.
If you are building a strategy from scratch, our OTT business model guide walks through how delivery, devices, and monetization fit together.
Build Across OTT, CTV, and FAST
Once you stop reading OTT vs CTV vs FAST as three competing choices, the build gets simpler: one platform handles delivery, devices, and channel models together. If you want your content delivered over OTT, running natively on every CTV device, with FAST channels alongside on-demand and live, book a demo and we will show how all three fit in one platform.
FAQ
What is the difference between OTT and CTV?
OTT is a delivery method (video sent over the internet), while CTV is a device category (an internet-connected television). OTT content is often watched on CTV devices, but OTT also plays on phones, tablets, and the web.
Is FAST the same as OTT?
No. OTT is how content is delivered (over the internet). FAST is a type of channel (free, linear, ad-supported). A FAST channel is delivered via OTT, but OTT also includes on-demand and subscription content.
Is CTV the same as a smart TV?
A smart TV is one kind of CTV. CTV (connected TV) also includes regular TVs with a streaming device attached, such as Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV. Any internet-connected TV used for streaming is CTV.
Do broadcasters need OTT, CTV, and FAST?
They are layers, not choices. A broadcaster delivers content via OTT, ensures it runs on CTV devices, and can use FAST as one monetization model alongside subscription and on-demand. A complete strategy uses all three.
Where does FAST content get watched?
Most often on CTV devices (Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG, Apple TV) in the living room, and also inside broadcasters' branded apps on mobile and smart TVs. FAST is delivered over OTT to those screens.
