Hilarious war of words between Tubi and Netflix flares up again as Fox launches streaming service in the UK

By William On Jul 3, 2024

Netflix’s biggest competitors in the UK have long been Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

But that could change now that media giant Fox has expanded Tubi, a streaming service that requires no payment or signup process.

Now, another hilarious war of words has broken out between Netflix and Tubi on X (Twitter), proving that the rivalry between the two runs deep.

Tubi shared the now infamous clip of American stand-up comedian Kat Williams in which she rails against fellow comedian Cedric the Entertainer, accusing him of stealing his jokes.

Tubi tagged Netflix in the post and said it “looks like it’s just you and me, babe,” suggesting Netflix is accusing its rival of similar infringement.

Tubi shared the now infamous January clip of American stand-up comedian Kat Williams going on a tirade against fellow comedian Cedric the Entertainer

Netflix then replied with a meme that went viral from an episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta that read, “How did I get into this?”

The January interaction is now relevant again, as Tubi (pronounced ‘tooby’) is now attempting to lure users away from Netflix in the UK.

While both streaming services offer exclusive TV shows and movies, there is some overlap in the content they offer.

However, the UK version of Tubi has been criticised for having so few popular titles, with one viewer even describing it as ‘the discounted DVD section of a video store’.

It is launching in the UK with 20,000 movies and TV episodes available – far fewer than the 240,000 movies and TV episodes available in the US.

Tubi is completely free, but users do have to endure ads during and after their favorite content, much like rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

One user said the UK Tubi was like walking into the discount DVD section of a junk shop, while the US version was “a sensation”

Another user joked about Tubi’s seemingly random focus on British chefs Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood – stars of ‘The Great British Bake Off’

Early adopters are disappointed with the selection of TV shows and movies available – described as ‘so bad’ and not at all comparable to the US version

There are also plenty of lesser-known, low-budget selections that are baffling British streaming fans.

One user said he searched for hits like “Babylon 5” and “NYPD Blue” before getting bizarre equivalents: “Babylon,” a 2023 documentary, and “Blue,” a 2019 foreign film.

Tubi UK offers classic TV series such as Twilight and Fresh Meat, as well as classic blockbusters such as Kill Bill, Billy Elliot and Casino.

There is also a wide selection of cooking shows from British chefs Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, stars of ‘The Great British Bake Off’.

Tubi was launched in the US ten years ago and is now available in Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said Tubi was entering the UK video streaming market at a “very competitive time”.

‘Being free to use is a big plus, even with adverts, as subscription costs continue to rise at established alternatives such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime,’ he told MailOnline.

“It’s great to see that Tubi, in addition to thousands of favorite movies and TV shows, also has its own original content. That remains a key differentiator for streaming platforms in such a saturated market.”

Cult Channel 4’s sitcom Fresh Meat is among Tubi’s comedy selection, but overall the British selection pales in comparison to Netflix

Both parts of the Quentin Tarantino classic Kill Bill starring Uma Thurman are available on Tubi UK

Tubi launched in the US in 2014 and has since built an impressive following in the US, eventually being acquired by Fox in 2020.

Today, television is the largest ad-based video-on-demand service in the US, with 80 million monthly viewers.

Tubi can offer so much content for free because it is funded entirely by advertising revenue.

However, according to Tubi, the platform only features three to five ads (totaling four to six minutes) per viewing hour, shown every 12 to 15 minutes.

Netflix vaguely claims that there are “a few short ads per hour,” although users are generally exposed to about the same number.

What movies and TV shows are on UK Tubi?

Billy Elliot

This British coming-of-age drama, starring Jamie Bell and directed by Stephen Daldry, was first released in 2000.

Set in County Durham in north-east England during the 1984 miners’ strike, the film tells the story of a working-class boy who sets his sights on ballet.

Billy Elliot won the Bafta for Best British Film.

Kill Bill (parts 1 and 2)

Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 classic pulp samurai film shocked audiences with its violent revenge aftermath when it first came out.

Uma Thurman stars as ‘The Bride’, who vows revenge on a group of assassins and their leader Bill.

Inspired by the grindhouse and exploitation cinema of the 1970s, Tarantino’s shocking classic features loads of blood, over-the-top violence and thrilling fight scenes.

Twilight

The Twilight Saga is based on the novels by American author Stephanie Meyer and tells the story of the romance between Bella and her vampire lover Edward.

The series, which originally released in 2008, gained a huge cult following and is still beloved by many.

While Tubi doesn’t have the full series, fans can still watch New Moon, Breaking Dawn, and Eclipse.

Wimbledon

Tubi obviously doesn’t have the rights to the famous tennis tournament, but the 2004 film Wimbledon is a favorite in British romantic comedies.

Starring Paul Bettany as a low-ranking tennis pro and Kirsten Dunst as a rising star, the film follows their blossoming relationship.

With the real Wimbledon tournament kicking off this week, it’s a good time to get into the tennis spirit with this classic.

Fresh meat

Fresh Meat is a British comedy series created by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, the creators of Peep Show.

Originally airing in 2011, this series follows six university students who live together in a shared house.

Starring Jack Whitehall, Joe Thomas and Charlotte Ritchie, this hilarious comedy ran for four seasons over five years.

Stephen Fry in America

This six-part BBC television series follows Stephen Fry as he travels across America, largely in a black London taxi.

In the series, Stephen Fry travels through all 50 American states and Washington DC.

In addition to the enigmatic QI presenter, special guests include Sting, Morgan Freeman and American entrepreneur Ted Turner.