Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corporation is making a foray into the UK’s competitive free, ad-supported video streaming market with its platform, Tubi. Tubi will be vying for viewers alongside Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming service, and BBC iPlayer. In the US, Tubi has rapidly gained market share, boasting nearly 80 million monthly active users, according to Fox.
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Tubi
In the UK, Tubi plans to offer over 20,000 films and TV series, featuring content from Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The platform will also showcase a selection of British, Indian, and Nigerian content. UK viewers will be able to access Tubi’s offerings via its webpage and a smartphone app.
“Tubi has spent the last decade honing our approach to vast, free, and fun streaming in North America, and we feel that now is the perfect time to bring that recipe to UK audiences,” said Tubi chief executive Anjali Sud. Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020 for $440 million (£348 million) as part of its strategy to attract younger audiences.
In recent years, streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have introduced ad-supported services and increased subscription prices in efforts to boost revenues. These moves come amid pressures to expand their content libraries and attract more customers in an increasingly competitive market.
In March, Murdoch’s TalkTV network announced it would cease terrestrial television broadcasting and transition to a purely online service. Launched in 2022, TalkTV struggled to attract viewers on its linear platform. Murdoch had aimed for the network to disrupt the broadcasting establishment by providing an opinion-led alternative to established outlets.
Murdoch has been a significant figure in the UK’s broadcasting industry since launching Sky in 1984. Some commentators view TalkTV as an attempt by Murdoch to replicate his earlier success with Sky. In 2018, 21st Century Fox sold its 39% stake in Sky to Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, after losing a bidding war for the network.
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