Comprehensive Business & Marketing Plan · April 2026

HearthlightMedia

A Christ-Centered FAST network built for the independent creator — 73% revenue to artists, AI-powered programming, and radical creative diversity.

$14.8B
FAST Market 2026E
Up from $4.1B in 2021
73%
Artist Revenue Share
Industry avg: 10–30%
Multi-Platform
Distribution Strategy
YouTube-first + FAST amplification

Hearthlight Media enters the $14.8 billion FAST market at a pivotal moment. Christian music is the second fastest-growing genre in the U.S. (up 25% in 2025), yet independent Christian artists remain locked out of meaningful television distribution — earning fractions of a cent per stream while traditional networks demand payment for airtime.

"The 73/10/17 model is not charity — it is the correct price for art that carries the Gospel. When creators thrive, the Kingdom expands."

By combining a creator-first revenue model with original in-house programming and a YouTube-first distribution strategy — amplified through FAST channels on Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, and Tubi — Hearthlight fills the gaps that TBN, Daystar, and Impact Gospel have left wide open.

01
MARKET ANALYSIS

The Landscape & The Gap

The FAST Christian media landscape is growing rapidly — but critical gaps remain for independent creators and modern audiences.

$14.8B
Global FAST Revenue 2026
Up from $4.1B in 2021
38%
FAST Viewership Growth
Year-over-year in 2025
63%
Gen Z Christians
Watch faith content monthly
250M+
Active FAST Users
Globally by end of 2025
Global FAST Market Revenue
USD Billions, 2021–2026E
202120222023202420252026E$0B$4B$8B$12B$16B
Christian Music Streaming Growth
Year-over-year % growth in on-demand streams
2020202120222023202420250%7%14%21%28%
Christian Media Audience by Platform & Generation
% of each generation engaging with Christian content by platform type (NRB/Barna 2025)
0%20%40%60%80%Gen Z (18–27)Millennials (28–43)Gen X (44–59)Boomers (60+)
  • Social Media
  • Broadcast/TV
Competitive Gap Analysis
Content category scores (0–100) — Hearthlight vs. existing Christian FAST networks
Youth ContentDiverse ArtsLo-Fi / AmbientKids EducationIndie AccessRevenue Share0255075100
  • Hearthlight Media
  • TBN
  • Daystar
  • Impact Gospel
Identified Market Gaps
Modern Youth Content
Gen Z and Millennials demand content addressing everyday struggles, mental health, and modern faith journeys — not just sermons.
Diverse Artistic Expression
Spoken word, dance, visual arts, and independent hip-hop are virtually absent from traditional Christian TV networks.
Ambient & Lo-Fi Programming
Scripture-infused lo-fi content is thriving on YouTube and Spotify but has no dedicated FAST channel home.
Indie Artist Access
Traditional networks require creators to pay for airtime or adhere to rigid formats, locking out independent voices.
Creator Pain Points
Fractional Streaming Royalties
Independent artists earn $0.003–$0.005 per stream on major platforms, making a living wage nearly impossible without massive scale.
Demonetization Risk
Christian content on YouTube and TikTok faces unpredictable demonetization and algorithmic suppression.
Gatekeeping by Networks
TBN and Daystar have faced criticism for pay-to-play models and lack of transparency in creator relationships.
No Marketing Infrastructure
Independent artists lack the resources to effectively market their content to a targeted Christian audience.
02
CONTENT STRATEGY

Curated + Original Programming

A hybrid model combining curated independent artist content with original in-house programming designed to fill every hour of the schedule with purpose.

🎵
Late-Night Lo-Fi
Original Production
Ambient scripture beats crafted in-house for study, sleep, and prayer
🎨
After-School Cartoons
Original Production
Edutaining animated programming teaching biblical principles for children
🎬
Artist Highlight Bumpers
Original Production
Short-form promotional videos spotlighting partnering independent artists
✨
Scripture Visualizations
Original Production
Visual art paired with scripture readings for ambient and devotional programming
24/7 Daypart Programming Strategy
Time BlockProgrammingContent SourceTarget Audience
6:00 AM – 9:00 AMMorning Worship & DevotionalsArtist PartnersAll Ages
9:00 AM – 12:00 PMVisual Arts & Spoken WordArtist PartnersAdults 25–44
12:00 PM – 3:00 PMChristian Music Videos & PerformancesArtist Partners + Hearthlight OriginalsMillennials
3:00 PM – 6:00 PMAfter-School Educational CartoonsHearthlight OriginalsChildren 4–12
6:00 PM – 9:00 PMShort Films, Dance & Prime ProgrammingArtist PartnersFamilies
9:00 PM – 12:00 AMLate-Night Lo-Fi Scripture BeatsHearthlight OriginalsGen Z / Young Adults
12:00 AM – 6:00 AMOvernight Lo-Fi & Scripture MeditationHearthlight OriginalsNight Owls / International
"Original programming does not replace the artist — it fills the gaps between them, ensuring the channel never goes dark and the message never stops reaching those who need it most."
03
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

YouTube-First & FAST Amplification

Hearthlight leads with YouTube as its primary content delivery network — unlimited reach, zero streaming caps, and passthrough links that keep viewers in a branded experience. FAST channels on Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, and Tubi serve as amplification layers that extend reach to the 70M+ connected TV households who never open YouTube.

YouTube — Primary CDN Layer
Unlimited Reach, Zero Caps
YouTube's CDN delivers content to any device, anywhere, with no streaming minute restrictions. Artists' content reaches global audiences from day one.
Passthrough Links
YouTube passthrough links embed seamlessly on the Hearthlight website and FAST channels, keeping viewers in a branded experience without platform lock-in.
24/7 Live Stream
A continuous branded stream on YouTube keeps the channel active around the clock, building watch time and algorithmic momentum simultaneously.
Ad Revenue + Organic Discovery
YouTube's ad network generates revenue independently of FAST CPMs, and the algorithm surfaces faith content to audiences actively searching for it.
FAST — Amplification Layer
Connected TV Households
70M+ U.S. households watch FAST channels on smart TVs. This audience segment rarely opens YouTube — FAST is the only way to reach them.
Lean-Back Viewing
FAST channels capture the passive, channel-surfing viewer. Faith content performs exceptionally well in lean-back environments where attention is sustained.
Programmatic Ad Revenue
FAST platforms run their own ad networks with faith-audience CPMs of $12–$22, adding a revenue stream entirely separate from YouTube monetization.
EPG & Scheduled Programming
An Electronic Program Guide gives Hearthlight the feel of a real TV network — scheduled blocks, show titles, and time slots that build viewing habits.
FAST Platform Onboarding Roadmap
Sequential launch strategy — YouTube as the foundation, FAST platforms as amplification layers
Phase 1
M1–M3
YouTube (24/7 Live Stream)
Own Website (Embedded)
FAST Channel Launch
Go live with 50+ hrs of content, YouTube channel active, FAST EPG and ads running
Phase 2
M3–M6
Roku Channel Store
Samsung TV Plus
Plex TV
Submit M3U8 feed to Roku & Samsung. Target 500 daily viewers
Phase 3
M6–M12
Pluto TV
Tubi
LG Channels
Negotiate content partnerships. 5,000+ daily viewers, upgrade Viloud plan
Phase 4
M12–M24
Amazon Freevee
Peacock
Apple TV Channels
Premium partnerships, original series, multi-channel sub-brands
04
MARKETING STRATEGY

Attracting High-Quality Artists

A multi-channel approach targeting independent Christian creators where they already live — social media, church networks, and creator communities.

01
Creator-First Messaging
Lead with the 73% revenue share in all outreach — it is the most powerful differentiator
Contrast with industry standard (10–30%) in every pitch deck and social post
Testimonial-driven content from early artist partners as social proof
"Your art. Your faith. Your revenue." — core campaign tagline
02
Community Infiltration
Partner with Christian creator conferences (NRB, Worship Together, RELEVANT)
Engage in Facebook Groups, Discord servers, and Reddit communities for Christian artists
Church network partnerships — pastors as referral nodes for artists in their congregations
Collaborate with Christian music blogs and podcast hosts for earned media
03
Social Media Strategy
Instagram: 9-slide grid architecture (brand kit diagonal flame pattern)
TikTok/Reels: 30-sec artist spotlight clips with Hearthlight branding
YouTube: Full artist performances + lo-fi scripture streams as discovery engine
LinkedIn: B2B outreach to Christian media executives and church communications directors
Artist Value Proposition
"Non-exclusive rights. No upfront cost. 73 cents of every dollar back to you. Your art on television."
📺
TV Distribution
FAST channel + Roku, Samsung, LG
📱
Social Amplification
Cross-posting to Hearthlight social accounts
💰
73% Revenue Share
Transparent monthly payouts
🤝
Non-Exclusive
Keep all other distribution rights
05
FINANCIAL MODEL

73/10/17 Sustainability Analysis

Revenue projections based on combined YouTube ad revenue and FAST channel CPM modeling across three growth phases, with the 73/10/17 split applied to all net income.

Revenue Model Assumptions
Launch Streaming CapacityUnlimited via YouTube CDN
Ad Load4 min/hr (industry standard)
Max Ad Minutes at Cap6,667 ad min/month
Faith Content CPM (Low)$12 per 1,000 impressions
Faith Content CPM (Mid)$17 per 1,000 impressions
Faith Content CPM (High)$22 per 1,000 impressions
Platform Revenue Share~40% to DSP / ad network
Net at Cap (Mid CPM)~$68/month gross net
Content StrategyEvergreen rotation + original programming
Scale Trigger5K+ daily viewers across platforms
Revenue Distribution Model
73%10%17%
  • Artists (73%)
  • Charity (10%)
  • Operations (17%)
73%
Artists
Direct monthly payout to content creators
10%
Charity
Partner ministries & faith-based nonprofits
17%
Operations
Platform, production tools, admin, marketing
24-Month Revenue Projection
Monthly gross ad revenue (USD) — YouTube + FAST combined, scaling through platform expansion
M1M2M3M4M5M6M9M12M18M24$0$550$1100$1650$2200
  • Gross Revenue
  • Artist Payouts (73%)
  • Charity (10%)
CPM Scenario Analysis — Launch Phase (FAST Channel)
6,667 ad minutes/month · 40% platform share · Net figures after platform fee
ScenarioCPMGross RevenueNet RevenueArtist Payout (73%)Charity (10%)Ops (17%)
Conservative$12$80$48$35$4.80$8.16
Base Case$17$113$68$50$6.80$11.56
Optimistic$22$147$88$64$8.80$14.96
Note: FAST channel figures represent the launch phase. YouTube ad revenue compounds these figures independently. At 10× scale across both platforms, base case nets ~$680/month with $496 to artists.
Financial Sustainability Assessment

The 73/10/17 model is financially sustainable because the 17% operations allocation covers near-zero infrastructure cost at launch — proprietary platform agreements eliminate recurring distribution fees. Operations budget covers production tool subscriptions (~$150/mo), domain and hosting (~$20/mo), and marketing spend, leaving meaningful margin from the first dollar earned.

The model becomes increasingly attractive to artists as viewership scales. At 1M streaming minutes/month (achievable by Month 12–18 with multi-platform distribution), artist payouts reach $496/month from a single channel — comparable to a mid-tier Spotify artist with 500,000 monthly listeners. The non-exclusive rights structure means artists compound this with all other revenue streams simultaneously.

🔥
Investor Access
Financial Model · Restricted
Enter your 4-digit access code to view the full financial model, CPM analysis, and revenue projections.
Incorrect code — please try again
Don't have access? Request Access
06
ARTIST APPLICATION

Your Art.
Your Faith.
Your Revenue.

Hearthlight Media is now accepting applications from independent Christian creators across all art forms. Non-exclusive rights. No upfront cost. 73 cents of every advertising dollar goes directly to you.

📺
Television Distribution
Your work on FAST channels — Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, and more
💰
73% Revenue Share
Transparent monthly payouts. Industry average is 10–30%.
🤝
Non-Exclusive Rights
Keep all other distribution rights. Hearthlight is additive, not restrictive.
📱
Social Amplification
Cross-promotion across Hearthlight's social channels and YouTube
🎨
All Art Forms Welcome
Music, dance, spoken word, visual art, film, social content — all valid
Currently Accepting
Singer-SongwriterSpoken Word ArtistDancer / ChoreographerVisual Artist / PainterSocial Media InfluencerFilmmaker / VideographerWorship LeaderPodcaster / Storyteller
Creator Application
Fields marked * are required
Preferred Contact Method
Social Profiles (at least one recommended)
Click or drag files to upload
PDF, Images, Video, Audio, ZIP
You may use a URL instead of, or in addition to, uploading files above.
I understand this is a non-exclusive partnership and that Hearthlight Media will contact me to discuss terms before any content is distributed.
We review every application personally. You will hear from us within 5–7 business days.