Tubi viewers disappointed with ‘poor’ selection of shows – free streaming service meant to rival Netflix launches in UK

Free video streaming service Tubi launched in the UK today, offering Brits an alternative to giants such as Netflix and Disney+.

Tubi, owned by US media giant Fox, does not charge a fee and instead shows ads during and after content.

But the first users are disappointed with the selection of TV shows and movies, describing them as ‘so bad’ and not at all comparable to the American version.

On social media site X, one user called UK Tubi “like the discount DVD section” of a rental company, while another said it “isn’t ready yet.”

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

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”

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’.

But there are also plenty of lesser-known, low-budget selections that are confusing 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.

Another user called the US version of Tubi a “sensation” thanks to its extensive offering, but this doesn’t seem to have spread to the UK.

He called it, “like the discount DVD section of the worst bodega in town.”

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

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

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

Cult Channel 4’s sitcom Fresh Meat is among the wide selection of comedies on Tubi

Licensing agreements may limit what Tubi UK can currently show. MailOnline has contacted the service for comment.

Interestingly, many of the big shows and movies on Tubi UK are also available on other popular streamers, such as Netflix and ITVX. This shows that it does not have exclusive rights.

But there are also a number of Tubi exclusives, including “Festival of the Living Dead,” a 2024 zombie film, and “House of Heat,” a Big Brother-style reality show starring social media influencers.

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.”

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (pictured) and Eclipse are among the Twilight films on Tubi in the UK

Unlike its rivals, Tubi does not have the option to pay to get rid of ads. Pictured are Jamie Bell and Julie Walters in Billy Elliot (2000)

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.