Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corporation has launched its ad-supported streaming service, Tubi, in the UK, entering a competitive market that includes Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming platform, and BBC iPlayer.
The service debuts with over 20,000 films and TV episodes available on-demand, featuring content from Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, along with Tubi’s original productions.
Among the initial offerings are the Twilight films, the horror film Candyman, and the Tubi original reality series House of Heat.
Fox claims that Tubi, with 80 million active users in the US, matches Disney+ in total viewing time.
Other available titles in the UK include Gerard Butler’s blockbuster Olympus Has Fallen, the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore, and the horror-comedy Happy Death Day. UK-specific offerings include episodes of Great British Menu, The Secret History of the British Garden, Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds, and Mary Berry’s Foolproof Cooking.
Streaming services are fiercely competing for market share while dealing with significant losses and consumers grappling with the cost of living crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a boom in streaming services, prompting companies like Netflix, Disney, and Apple to invest billions in creating high-budget shows to attract subscribers. However, as growth has slowed, these companies are now focused on cutting costs and achieving profitability.
Sport and live events have become increasingly important for media companies. Netflix plans to stream WWE wrestling, and Disney is preparing to stream live sports from its ESPN network.
(With information from The Guardian)
