Xumo Co-Founder Launches First AI-Exclusive FAST Channel ‘Fairground’ on Roku

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Colin Petrie-Norris, the digital media executive who helped pioneer free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) as co-founder and former CEO of Xumo, is back with a new venture targeting the next wave of media distribution: Fairground Entertainment.

Fairground has debuted what it describes as the world’s first-ever 24/7 FAST channel dedicated exclusively to AI-generated cinema and series, showcasing content created by over 100 generative AI video creators globally.

The channel has launched on The Roku Channel, placing AI programming directly into the living room EPGs (electronic program guides) of tens of millions of households.

From Xumo to Generative AI Cinema

Petrie-Norris built Xumo into a major player in free streaming before its landmark sale to Comcast (and subsequent integration into a Comcast–Charter joint venture). Drawing a parallel between the early days of FAST and the current AI landscape, Petrie-Norris views generative technology as a similar force for democratization.

“Cable and linear TV was the realm of the very well-financed. FAST disrupted that by doing away with retransmission fees and making it easier for smaller digital brands to launch their own 24/7 network. Generative AI offers that same democratization for storytellers.”

— Colin Petrie-Norris, Founder & CEO of Fairground Entertainment

Unlike traditional episodic television schedules, Fairground’s FAST stream operates as a continuous matrix of AI-generated shorts, narrative experiments, micro-dramas, and even AI-generated commercials. Creators submit projects to Fairground, which curates, packages, and monetizes the content for ad-supported television.

The Roku Scale & The Fox Acquisition Context

Fairground’s distribution push onto Roku comes at a transformative moment for the hardware and platform giant. Earlier this year, Fox Corporation acquired Roku in a massive $22 billion deal, absorbing Roku’s OS, hardware footprint, and ad infrastructure into Fox’s media empire.

About John Schwarz

John is the Chief Editor and Founder of Bubbleblabber.com. While at first a part-time project, Bubbleblabber quickly grew into a full-fledged operation and officially became a company in 2014. When John isn't running a business full-time, he likes to go to concerts with your mother.