Rupert Murdoch’s Fox
Corporation is launching Tubi, a free, ad-supported video streaming service, in
the UK. Tubi, which has nearly 80 million monthly active users in the US, will
compete with Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming platform, and the
BBC iPlayer. The platform will launch with over 20,000 films and TV series from
Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as
British, Indian, and Nigerian content. Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020
for $440m (£348m) to attract younger audiences. Other streaming companies like
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have launched ad-supported services
and raised subscription prices to boost revenues. However, Abi Watson, a senior
media analyst at Enders, suggests that Tubi might struggle to gain traction in
the UK’s already well-catered free online video space.
Blog Q: How might the entry of
Tubi, a free, ad-supported streaming service, impact the competitive landscape
of the UK’s video streaming market?
