FASTer with Amagi

Neal Zuckerman, Senior Partner and Chair, Global Institute for the Future of Television at BCG, shares his unique journey from military service at West Point to thought leadership in media and journalism. We explore the challenges facing legacy media, the decline of local news, shifting consumer habits, and the disruptive impact of emerging technologies. From his perspective on advertising's atten...

Stuart McLean, founder and CEO of Fast Studios, charts the journey of crafting engaging content and driving brand engagement at scale. He explains how Fast Studios builds streaming TV brands that deliver a dynamic mix of live gameplay, highlight-based programming, and story-driven narratives. McLean underscores the vital role of storytelling in sports and advocates for expanding coverage of women'...

What do rescuing a two-legged dog from Lebanon and redefining Europe's CTV landscape have in common? Everything, if you’re Sarah Lewis. On today’s episode, we chart Sarah's remarkable journey and explore the future of ad-supported streaming in Europe. 00:00 Introduction to Sarah Lewis and Her Journey 03:05 The Role of Advertising in Public Broadcasting 06:00 Nonprofit Advertising and Its Unique Ch...

Ben Goodfriend sits down with Moe Chughtai, Head of Advanced TV at MIQ, for an insightful discussion tracing Moe’s journey from teaching to ad tech. They explore industry challenges, including the art of simplifying programmatic advertising’s technical complexities for diverse audiences—ranging from media professionals to everyday viewers. The conversation addresses pressing issues like unfilled i...

Dan shares his journey from the Air Force to fixing Apple computers and producing some of the first live streamed concerts. He details the fragmented sports streaming ecosystem, explores media's myriad metrics, and poses a critical question: "Why do we watch what we watch?" 00:00 Dan's Journey 16:36 The NFL's Dominance 30:00 Understanding Financial Metrics in Streaming 39:38 The Rise of FAST Chann...

Our host, Ben Goodfriend, chats with Kathy Argyriou about her early childhood and her journey into the ad tech world. Together, they explore the complexity of live streaming infrastructure. Kathy shares what it's like explaining programmatic advertising to her grandparents, diversity in the industry, and advice to the next generation. 00:00 Introduction to Kathy Argyriou and Freewheel 02:11 Kathy'...

From a small town to Hollywood: Ben Goodfriend and Frank Jung dive deep into Frank's journey through the fast-paced world of representation, the evolution of digital media, and the launch of FMC (Franchise Media Collective)—navigating the future of Entertainment and the Creator Economy. 00:00 Meet Frank Jung 09:20 The Birth of CAA Digital Media 23:27 New Modes of Distribution. 26:54 Introducing FM...

Ben Goodfriend and Scott Rosenberg, key architect of Roku's media and advertising business, explore the birth of FAST, the OS wars, and Data's tragedy of the commons. 0:45 Scott's journey to and through media. 3:42 Building Roku 14:50 The Birth of FAST 19:31 The OS (Operating System) Wars 26:08 Roku and Amagi 27:20 The Future of FAST 29:37 AI and Personalization 33:09 Data's Tragedy of The Commons...

Ben Goodfriend and Chris Williams, Founder and CEO of Pocket Watch, discuss AI, Kids Programming's linear legacy, the internet's "hunger games," and more. 0:45 Introducing Pocket Watch 5:15 Pocket Watch and FAST 9:10 Linear Legacy 13:00 Advertising in Kids and Family 19:50 Ancillary Revenue 22:45 The Growth of FAST 24:10 Monetization and Artificial Intelligence 31:55 Pocket Watch Syndication 33:50...

Ben Goodfriend and Evan Shapiro discuss Evan's quixotic journey, the genesis of the media-utility bundle, the future of FAST, and more. 00:35 - 04:40 Evan’s Biography 04:40 - 05:40 Storytelling and Portlandia 05:40 - 09:45 Triple Play and The Media Apocalypse 09:45 - 12:15 FAST and Media Ergonomics 12:15 - 13:42 News 13:42 - 14:50 Viewing Behavior: Linear Tolerance 14:50 - 16:36 Retail Media and A...