Observed Signal · Jun 14, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Plex Adds Three New Live FAST Channels
Plex has added three new live channels to its free ad-supported streaming lineup: BBC Sci‑Fi, Mayday Air Disaster, and Startalk TV. The channels provide curated science fiction programming, documentary-style aviation incident reconstructions, and popular-science talk-show content respectively. The additions expand Plex’s FAST (free ad-supported television) offering and are accessible through the Plex app across smart TVs, streaming sticks, mobile devices, and computers. The article also recounts Plex’s origins (Elan Feingold beginning the project in 2007) and its evolution from a personal-media server to a global streaming platform with both free ad-supported channels and paid Plex Pass features.
Adds niche FAST channels to an established streaming platform, incrementally expanding CTV/FAST inventory and audience targeting opportunities but not a major platform policy or technical change.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Plex added three new channels: BBC Sci‑Fi, Mayday Air Disaster, and Startalk TV.
- The new channels are available via the Plex app on smart TVs, streaming sticks, mobile phones, and computers.
- Plex positions these channels within its FAST (free ad-supported television) lineup to offer niche science fiction, aviation-history, and popular-science programming.
- Plex originated as a project by Elan Feingold in late 2007 and became Plex, Inc. after a December 2009 partnership with Cayce Ullman and Scott Olechowski.
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Plex Adds Five New Free Live TV Channels
Plex has added five new free ad-supported live TV channels to its FAST service, expanding its lineup to over 600 channels. The new channels include Franklin x bash (legal comedy), Chrome thillee (lifestyle and design), Crime scene TV (true crime), Tennis TV (sports), and Swagtg (entertainment). These channels are available across all major streaming devices and platforms without a paid subscription, supported by advertising. Plex has been steadily expanding its free live TV offerings throughout 2026, positioning itself as a major player in the free ad-supported streaming space.
Plex Adds 13 Free Ad‑Supported Channels
Plex has expanded its free, ad-supported channel lineup by adding 13 new channels across entertainment, science, lifestyle and niche film categories. The additions — which include multiple WBtv-branded channels alongside offerings such as Popular Science, Garden by Monty Don and Home Cooking on the Food Channel — are live within the Plex app and available to all users on the platform’s free tier across smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks and web browsers. Cord Cutters News reported the update on May 20, 2026, framing the move as part of Plex’s strategy to broaden FAST/AVOD-style content and consolidate more viewing options inside a single app.
Plex Adds 10 Free Live Channels
Plex announced the addition of 10 new free, ad-supported live channels to its streaming library, spanning drama, true crime, reality, horror and lifestyle programming. The channels — including Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Live PD variants, Frightflix, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, Cesar’s Pack Leader TV and The Great British Baking Channel — are available to both paid subscribers and free account holders at no extra cost. Plex said the expansion complements its existing catalog of hundreds of live channels and thousands of on-demand titles, leverages its recommendation engine for discovery, and includes technical improvements such as 4K support on compatible content. The update reinforces Plex’s AVOD/FAST positioning as a hybrid platform combining personal media management with curated streaming content.
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