Tubi’s UK Launch

Fox Corporation's Tubi enters the competitive UK streaming scene, challenginggiants like Netflix, Disney, Apple, and Amazon. With its successful US footprint, Tubi boasts 80 million viewers and a diverse library of 20,000+ films and TV shows from studios like Disney, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures.

The UK debut of Tubi underscores the growing popularity of ad-supported streaming services, a trend amplified by pandemic-induced lockdowns. Services like Netflix have managed to retain viewers by offering more affordable ad-supported plans. For instance, Netflix’s ad-supported plan is priced at a modest £4.99 per month, significantly lower than its regular £10.99 subscription.

Amazon’s Prime Video has also embraced this model, integrating advertisements into its service via the Freevee service. These ads are tactically inserted throughout the videos or displayed at the start and end.

Tubi, currently the fastest-growing streaming service in the US, had previously disclosed plans to expand into the UK. The platform was procured by Fox in 2020 for $440m (£348m), a deal partially financed by Mr. Murdoch’s sale of his stake in the digital television platform Roku.

Anjali Sud, in a recent interview, expressed, “The UK market is ripe for a service like Tubi. With our unique model and diverse content, we aim to offer something truly different to UK viewers.”

Following the launch of Tubi, Rupert Murdoch discontinued TalkTV, a terrestrial channel akin to Fox News. TalkTV, which was outperformed by GB News, was terminated in March due to losses. In the wake of Piers Morgan’s departure, News UK has transitioned to a streaming-only model, underscoring the evolving media consumption patterns in the UK.

As Anjali Sud once said, “Innovation is about making ideas happen.” And Tubi’s launch in the UK is a testament to that spirit of innovation.