Entertainment Without Borders: AI-Media and Lightning International Join Forces to Make FAST Channels Accessible to Everyone

3 hours ago 1
AI-Media and Lightning International Join Forces to Make FAST Channels Accessible to EveryoneAI-Media and Lightning International Join Forces to Make FAST Channels Accessible to Everyone GNW

Article content

SYDNEY and HONG KONG, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI-Media Technologies Limited (“AI-Media”), a global leader in live captioning and translation solutions, has entered a groundbreaking partnership with Lightning International (“Lightning”), the leading distributor of Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) channels. This collaboration aims to break down barriers and bring the joy of entertainment to every corner of the globe, and enhance revenue opportunities for FAST platforms and content owners, transforming how premium content is distributed and monetized across diverse markets.

Financial Post

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

  • Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
  • Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
  • Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

  • Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
  • Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
  • Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account.
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
  • Enjoy additional articles per month.
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
  • Enjoy additional articles per month
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

or

Article content

Article content

Article content

Solving Accessibility and Localization Challenges

Article content

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Imagine viewers in Germany – or anywhere in the world – accessing the latest news in real time, with no language barriers. This partnership addresses key challenges for FAST platforms: delivering premium, localized content to a global audience and increasing accessibility for all viewers from heart-pounding action movies to the latest chart-topping music, and even adorable pets. Leveraging AI-Media’s LEXI and LEXI Translate solutions, content is localized in real-time with live-translated captions burned directly into the feed, making it accessible in over 50 languages.

Article content

For example, a channel previously limited to English-speaking markets, can now reach fans worldwide by offering live-translated captions in French, German, Italian, Japanese, and more. This opens new distribution channels, expands viewership, and enables content monetization in previously inaccessible markets.

Article content

Tony Abrahams, CEO of AI-Media, said “This partnership with Lightning International is a game-changer for the FAST industry. By making premium content accessible and localized in real-time, we are helping platforms grow audiences and increase revenue while making global content truly inclusive.”

Article content

Article content

Transformative Benefits for FAST Platforms and Content Owners

Article content

  • Increased Engagement and Viewership: Captions enhance engagement, driving repeat viewership and longer watch times—a key factor for increasing ad opportunities on FAST platforms.
  • Greater Accessibility: AI-Media’s solutions not only benefit the d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities but also cater to the growing demand for captions among millennial and Gen Z viewers, 87% of whom find captions useful for watching video content.
  • New Revenue Streams: By breaking down language barriers, this partnership enables content owners to reach new markets, driving higher audience numbers and ad revenue.
  • Cost-Effective Localization: Traditional live translation methods are expensive and resource intensive. AI-Media’s AI-powered solutions deliver scalable, real-time localization at a fraction of the cost, with less latency and greater reliability.

Article content

How It Works

Article content

AI-Media’s Alta and LEXI Translate solutions provide real-time transcription and translation. Captions are seamlessly integrated into the linear channel feed, which is then delivered to FAST platforms via Lightning International’s content delivery services based in Hong Kong. This approach ensures a streamlined workflow that is cost-effective, scalable, and reliable.

Read Entire Article