THE APEX TIMES
Carwow to Launch as a FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus, Joining the Ad-Supported Lineup
YouTube automotive channel Carwow, led by journalist Mat Watson, is set to move into Samsung TV Plus’s ad-supported FAST lineup in an expansion facilitated by Mirage Digital.
Carwow, the automotive YouTube channel run by journalist Mat Watson, is set to become a FAST (free, ad-supported streaming television) channel on Samsung TV Plus, according to Deadline. The announcement says the move will place Carwow inside Samsung’s ad-supported streaming lineup, expanding the audience reach beyond YouTube. Deadline reports the channel has more than 11 million subscribers on Google’s video platform.
Deadline reports that the rollout will be facilitated by Mirage Digital, which is named as the company assisting with the launch. The FAST format generally uses ad breaks to support free viewing, and the shift indicates Carwow is pursuing an additional distribution path aimed at viewers who watch through connected TV services rather than only via web and mobile video.
The planned change marks a new phase for Carwow’s programming strategy, as FAST channels are designed to operate as scheduled and automatically accessible streams within a platform’s interface. Under this approach, channels are typically offered as part of an aggregated lineup that users can browse, rather than requiring the viewer to select individual uploads one at a time.
Samsung TV Plus’s FAST lineup is positioned as an ad-supported alternative to subscription streaming, and Deadline’s report frames Carwow’s addition as a way to bring a large, established creator audience into that ecosystem. Deadline does not describe changes to Carwow’s content format in the report, but the FAST placement suggests the channel’s video library and/or curated programming will be adapted for linear-style viewing within the service.
Carwow’s entry into Samsung TV Plus also highlights the broader role of intermediaries in creator-to-platform distribution. Mirage Digital’s involvement, as described by Deadline, indicates that the channel’s move to FAST is supported by a specialized partner focused on technical and business launch components for streaming distribution.
Deadline’s report is an initial announcement of the plan to bring Carwow into the FAST lineup on Samsung TV Plus. The article does not specify the start date within the information provided, nor does it outline any changes to the channel’s monetization structure on YouTube.
As Carwow prepares for the launch, viewers may see the channel appear within Samsung TV Plus’s streaming catalog, where users can select FAST options alongside other ad-supported channels. The expansion also creates a new measurement pathway for audience engagement, since FAST viewership is typically tracked within connected TV environments rather than through YouTube-specific metrics.
Why It Matters
- Carwow’s arrival on Samsung TV Plus expands the channel’s distribution into connected TV, potentially reaching households that primarily watch through TV apps.
- The move adds a new ad-supported viewing route for the channel, changing how audiences encounter Carwow content.
- Mirage Digital’s role underscores how creators increasingly rely on launch partners to integrate with major streaming platforms’ FAST ecosystems.
- The expansion may shift audience discovery patterns, since FAST channels are typically accessed through platform lineups rather than individual YouTube searches.
Key Facts
- Carwow is set to launch as a FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus, according to Deadline.
- Mat Watson, who runs Carwow, is the creator lead named in the report.
- Deadline says Carwow has more than 11 million subscribers on YouTube.
- Mirage Digital is reported to be facilitating the launch.
- The report describes the move as adding Carwow to Samsung’s ad-supported streaming lineup.