Fox Set to Launch Free Netflix Rival in UK

Fox Corporation, under the leadership of Rupert Murdoch, is set to introduce Tubi, its ad-supported streaming platform, into the UK’s robust streaming market. Tubi will join a competitive landscape that includes heavyweights like Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming platform, and the BBC iPlayer.

Originally gaining traction in the US with nearly 80 million monthly active users, Tubi aims to replicate its success in the UK by offering over 20,000 films and TV series. This extensive library will feature content from major studios such as Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside a selection of British, Indian, and Nigerian content.

Viewers in the UK will access Tubi through its website, smartphone app, and smart TVs, providing a variety of viewing options across different devices.

“Tubi has spent the last decade refining our approach to extensive, free, and engaging streaming in North America, and we believe the time is ripe to introduce that formula to UK audiences,” remarked Tubi CEO Anjali Sud.

Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020 for $440 million (£348 million), aiming to attract younger audiences amid shifting media consumption habits. The move comes amidst a broader trend where streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ have expanded into ad-supported services while adjusting subscription pricing strategies to bolster revenues and content libraries.

Commenting on Tubi’s UK entry, Abi Watson, senior media analyst at Enders, noted the challenge of breaking into a market already well-served by public service broadcasters. Despite Tubi’s success in the US, Watson cautioned that its approach in the UK, lacking unique content, might face difficulties gaining traction against established competitors.

Earlier in March, Murdoch’s TalkTV network transitioned from terrestrial broadcasting to an online-only format after struggling to attract viewers on traditional TV platforms. Launched in 2022, TalkTV aimed to offer an opinion-led alternative to existing outlets, reminiscent of Murdoch’s pioneering role in the UK broadcasting sector with the launch of Sky in 1984.

Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox sold its stake in Sky to Comcast’s NBCUniversal in 2018, marking a significant shift in media ownership dynamics.