How Brazil’s FAST Boom Is Reshaping Global Streaming

While much of Hollywood obsesses over subscriber churn and bundling strategies, Brazil is quietly flipping the script on global streaming. With skyrocketing Connected TV adoption, an explosion in FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) viewership, and a surging online video ad market, Brazil is quickly becoming one of the most important territories in the next chapter of global film distribution.

According to research firm Omdia, Brazil is now the third-largest FAST market outside the U.S., and is on track to become No. 2 globally by revenue by 2029, surpassing even Canada.

Let that sink in. Brazil isn’t just watching. It’s monetizing.

FAST Is Taking Over Brazil’s Streaming Landscape

The shift isn’t theoretical, it’s happening in real time. Weekly FAST usage in Brazil has quadrupled in just four years, and 30% of the population now watches FAST content weekly. Services like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Samsung TV Plus are now fixtures on the country’s top 10 most-watched Smart TV apps, sharing space with global giants like Netflix and Prime Video.

Why does this matter to indie filmmakers and content owners? Because this isn’t just eyeballs, it’s revenue. Omdia estimates that $3 billion of Brazil’s projected $14.4 billion online video revenue in 2029 will come from advertising alone.

And while Brazil remains Netflix’s second-largest international market, the real growth story is in FAST.

The Streaming Ad Market Is Still Undervalued

According to María Rua Aguete, senior research director at Omdia, advertisers are asleep at the wheel. Despite Brazilians spending 86 minutes per day on streaming platforms, advertising spend continues to over-index toward social media and linear TV. That imbalance? It’s a golden opportunity for savvy brands, agencies, and filmmakers looking for monetization and marketing partnerships.

Rua Aguete notes that Connected TV advertising is the fastest-growing media category globally, with Brazil leading that charge. While YouTube’s share of the video ad market in Brazil is expected to shrink from 56% to 41% by 2029, premium ad-supported platforms are gaining ground fast.

Smart TVs Are a New Gateway to Audiences

In Brazil, 83% of FAST content is consumed on Smart TVs, making them the dominant interface for discovery, loyalty, and long-form viewing. Samsung leads the pack, with a 51% market share, followed by LG at 20%. As Smart TVs become more affordable and ubiquitous, they’re also becoming the new “shop window” for content and commerce.

And speaking of commerce, there’s a coming wave of shoppable TV, where consumers can purchase products directly through their television interface. With global e-commerce projected to hit $6.6 trillion by 2029, the ad-tech potential of this convergence is massive.

Filmmakers and content owners who understand how to position their IP within these ecosystems (via branded content, integrations, or AVOD licensing) stand to win big.

Netflix’s Brazil Strategy

Brazil’s role in Netflix’s growth strategy offers a playbook for content creators. Some of the streamer’s top hits, Desperate Lies, Burning Betrayal, Senna, and Bionic, weren’t made for international export. But their authenticity struck a chord globally.

That’s the lesson: locally grounded stories can have global legs. Netflix’s Brazilian originals aren’t chasing global appeal, they’re nailing regional storytelling. And the result? They travel.

What It Means for Indie Filmmakers and Film Marketers

FAST platforms aren’t just a budget option, they’re becoming the default discovery engine for the next wave of audiences. And Brazil, in particular, represents a perfect storm:

• Mass adoption of Smart TVs
• A culturally diverse, entertainment-hungry audience
• A growing infrastructure for digital ads
• Governmental and private investment in content production

If you’re an indie filmmaker looking to license your project, expand your audience, or tap into new monetization models, Brazil’s FAST ecosystem deserves your attention…yesterday.

Brazil Isn’t Just a Market

As Rua Aguete put it, “If you want to understand where the future of global streaming is headed, watch Brazil.”

FAST isn’t fringe anymore. It’s front and center. And Brazil’s audience (and infrastructure) may just be your next best distribution deal waiting to happen.