Blue Ant Media: FAST TV Websites Series

Introduction

Blue Ant Media (BAM) is a global producer, distributor, and channel operator, with a diverse portfolio of media brands including BBC Earth, Smithsonian Channel, Cottage Life, T+E, Love Nature, HauntTV, and many more. As they expanded their presence in the global FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) market, they needed a reliable digital partner to help design, develop, and maintain a series of FAST TV websites that promote streaming channels and new shows to audiences worldwide.

Challenge

Blue Ant Media partnered with Vertical to deliver this ambitious project. Our role: to provide support, maintenance, and custom WordPress development across their existing sites, and to design and launch a suite of new FAST TV sites — HauntTV, homeful, TotalCrime, LovePets, Declassified, NatureTime and more and all on extremely tight timelines.

Solution

We worked closely with Blue Ant Media’s internal team to define requirements, share design drafts in Figma, and implement feedback iteratively. While each site had unique branding (logos, colors, fonts), we built them on a shared, consistent structure, ensuring efficiency and speed of delivery.

Client Goals

Strengthen security and improve SEO across existing BAM sites.
Build a scalable set of FAST TV sites that could be launched quickly to support new channels.
Provide audiences with fast, mobile-friendly, one-page websites showcasing schedules, trailers, streaming options, and show information.
Implement geotargeting and multilingual content delivery for global audiences.
Enable BAM editors to manage each site individually, but also maintain centralized control for updates, plugin installs, and security patches.

Our Approach

Key design and devel priorities included:

Responsive, mobile-first layouts.
Simple, intuitive side menus for easy navigation.
Consistent user experience across brands, while respecting individual brand identity.
Interactive on-page elements.
Lighthouse performance-optimization.
Country-based multi-content delivery.

Challenges & Solutions

Tight timelines: Each site had to be designed and developed in about 1 week, with all FAST TV sites launched in just 2 months. Our modular, reusable codebase enabled rapid delivery.
Global content needs: We solved the geotargeting and multilingual requirements with custom integrations, ensuring accurate and responsive content delivery.
Consistent yet unique design: By building a shared structure with flexible branding, we balanced speed with creative differentiation.
Centralized management: We built tools to handle updates and security across all BAM properties, saving significant time for their internal team.

Technical Execution

We developed each site using WordPress + Divi, enhanced with custom in-house code.

Highlights of the technical build include:

Custom centralized management system: While each site runs independently, we implemented centralized control for plugin installs, feature updates, and security patches.
3D carousel integration to showcase posters and trailers.
Geotargeting with IP detection, ensuring users in different countries see content tailored to their region.
Multilingual support via Google Translate API integration for global reach.
Lightweight video integration pulling content from databases, Vimeo, and YouTube for optimized speed.
Analytics tracking across all sites to measure engagement and inform future strategy.

Results & Impact

Six FAST TV sites launched successfully within the 2-month window.

99.99% uptime and lightning-fast loading times across all properties.

High traffic and strong user engagement in the first weeks after launch, contributing to BAM’s global FAST expansion strategy.

Ongoing growth: New countries and features continue to be added seamlessly, ensuring scalability.

Expanded partnership: Beyond the FAST TV sites, Vertical continues to provide maintenance, security, and development for over 10 other Blue Ant Media properties.

8

Fast TV Sites

99.99%

Uptime

95

Lighthouse Performance

Vertical has been an outstanding partner in helping us launch and maintain our FAST TV websites. Their team delivered high-quality, secure, and fast-loading sites on extremely tight timelines. Thanks to their expertise, we’ve been able to expand our streaming brands globally with confidence.

Meredith Neufeld

Product Manager, Canadian Media

Ongoing

This collaboration has helped BAM strengthen its digital footprint, grow its streaming audience worldwide, and stay ahead in the competitive FAST TV space. Vertical continues to provide ongoing support and maintenance as well as custom development solutions across multiple BAM projects.

About Blue Ant Media

Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international media company and content producer with offices in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and Singapore. Their portfolio spans global production studios, distribution, and multi-platform media brands including Love Nature, BBC Earth, T+E, HauntTV, homeful, and many others.

About Vertical

Vertical is a Toronto-based WordPress digital agency specializing in high-performance websites, custom development, and complex digital solutions. With over 15 years of experience, we work with global brands to deliver secure, scalable, and user-focused web experiences. Our ongoing partnership with Blue Ant Media highlights our strengths in technical innovation, rapid delivery, and long-term collaboration.

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