In just a few short years, Softconstruct has emerged as a dominant force in the media landscape through its dynamic and fast-evolving subsidiary, Fast Media. Originally launched as Vivaro Media in December 2020, this ambitious Armenian venture quickly expanded, rebranding in 2023 to reflect its swift, innovative approach to content delivery.
Fast Media now holds exclusive rights to some of the biggest international sports events and leagues, positioning itself as a game-changer in Armenian sports broadcasting. Today, we dive into the journey of Fast Media with Arsen Haytyan, Head of Marketing and Operations, and explore how the company is shaping the future of media in Armenia and beyond.
– Softconstruct is a very ambitious organisation and one of the leaders of the industry. Since its interest in media, could you share the story of how Fast Media started and where is the media direction now?
– Fast Media, launched as Vivaro Media in December 2020, was the first media holding in Armenia to unite multiple media platforms under one umbrella. This strategic initiative marked the company’s entry into the media sector, providing a foundation for rapid expansion.
In 2023, Vivaro Media was rebranded as Fast Media to align with its evolving vision and to emphasize a faster, more dynamic approach to media development. The company’s direction now focuses on being a comprehensive media provider in Armenia, offering everything from streaming services via Fast TV to sports broadcasting through its Fast Sports TV channels.
Fast Media aims to bring world-class sports and diverse entertainment content to Armenian audiences while establishing a new sports broadcasting culture and fostering a healthy lifestyle.
– Which territories does Fast Media cover?
– Fast Media primarily serves the Armenian market. However, with its exclusive broadcasting rights to major international sports events and leagues such as UEFA, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, NBA, NHL, Formula 1, UFC, and Bellator, Fast Media’s content also appeals to a broader regional audience interested in high-quality sports and entertainment content.
The company also partners with entities like UEFA, Setanta Sports, and Volleyball World SA, further extending its influence.
– What is the content and territory growth strategy?
– Fast Media’s growth strategy revolves around enhancing its content offering and expanding its audience reach. The company is focused on securing exclusive broadcasting rights to popular sports leagues and championships, producing high-quality local and international sports content, and supporting various sports federations, clubs, and athletes in Armenia.
Additionally, Fast Media is expanding its digital footprint through the Fast TV streaming platform, which offers a vast library of movies, series, documentaries, and other entertainment content. The platform also features its own original programs, showcasing unique local stories and productions.
Fast TV further enriches its offerings with multilingual audio tales available in Armenian, Russian, and English, aimed at a diverse audience. The company plans to expand this collection by adding more stories in these languages and potentially introducing new ones, ensuring a wide range of content that appeals to different viewer preferences and helps attract and retain more viewers across different regions.
– While there are plenty of OTT tech providers out there, Fast Media stands out by owning its own technology. What are the key advantages of the platform, and how does it benefit the betting industry?
– Fast Media’s streaming platform, Fast TV, is built on a robust and innovative IT infrastructure that allows for seamless streaming, flexible monetization options, and comprehensive content management. Owning its technology gives Fast Media complete control over its platform’s features and capabilities, ensuring a high-quality user experience.
For the betting sector, the platform’s ability to provide live sports broadcasts, real-time analytics, and multi-channel streaming supports engaging, interactive content that can enhance sports betting experiences. This integration of content and technology provides an edge over competitors by offering a more immersive and dynamic environment for sports fans and bettors alike.
– We see that sports media brands are trying to be in tighter partnerships with sports organisations, for example, DAZN is tightly connected to boxing and owns almost all major event rights; on the other hand, it supports sports development itself. What is Fast Media’s take on this?
– Fast Media adopts a similar approach by forming strategic partnerships with sports organisations and acquiring exclusive rights to major sports events and leagues. The company is deeply committed to supporting the development of sports in Armenia, partnering with local sports federations, clubs, and athletes.
Through professional coverage, filming, and broadcasting of various sports events, Fast Media aims to promote sports culture and inspire a healthy lifestyle among its audience. This strategy not only reinforces Fast Media’s position as a leading sports broadcaster in Armenia but also contributes to the growth and popularity of sports in the country.
– Is Fast Media aiming to play a major role in driving user acquisition for Softconstruct?
– Fast Media is positioned to be a significant contributor to user acquisition for Softconstruct. Through its diverse content offerings and high-quality sports broadcasts, Fast Media attracts a wide audience base that can be leveraged to drive user engagement across other Softconstruct platforms.
The integration of Fast TV and Fast Sports channels with Softconstruct’s ecosystem provides a seamless experience for users, encouraging them to explore additional services and products within the Softconstruct family.
– We see the Fast brand as being more crypto-oriented within the Softconstruct family. Does this imply that Fast Media is also focused on crypto? If so, what is its specific crypto focus?
– While the Fast brand within the Softconstruct family has a strong association with crypto-oriented initiatives, Fast Media is primarily focused on its core business of sports broadcasting and media content. There is no explicit mention of a crypto-driven strategy for Fast Media in the provided information. However, the company remains open to innovative approaches and could explore crypto opportunities in the future to enhance its service offerings or audience engagement.
– Last but not least, what should we expect from Fast Media within three years? What surprises are under your sleeve?
– Over the next three years, Fast Media plans to continue its rapid growth by expanding its content library, securing more exclusive sports broadcasting rights, and enhancing its digital platform’s user experience. Viewers can expect more high-quality, diverse content, including local and international sports events, movies, series, and original productions.
Fast Media is also likely to invest in cutting-edge technology to improve streaming quality and viewer engagement, potentially introducing new features and services to surprise and delight its audience.
As the company strengthens its position as a national sports broadcaster, it aims to set new standards in sports media and entertainment in Armenia and beyond.
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