What is Tubi? New streaming service launches in the UK today β here’s what you need to know
British film fans now have another way to watch their favourite content as Tubi is available in the UK for the first time.
The popular US streaming service is available to UK viewers from today, with 20,000 movies and TV episodes available on demand.
It includes classic British TV series such as Twilight and Fresh Meat, as well as classic blockbusters such as Kill Bill, Billy Elliot and Casino.
Tubi is completely free, but users will be exposed to ads during and after their favorite content, just like competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Plus, there’s no sign-up or login required, just download the app or visit the website to start watching.
The American streaming service Tubi is owned by Fox and is completely free – although the catch is that users have to endure ads
Both parts of the Quentin Tarantino classic Kill Bill starring Uma Thurman are available on Tubi
After launching in 2014, the streaming service gained an impressive following in the US and was eventually acquired by Fox in 2020.
Today, television is the largest ad-based video-on-demand service in the US, with 18 million monthly viewers.
To start streaming, simply download the app on your device or visit the Tubi website.
You will be asked to enter your first name, age and gender, then you can start watching.
Some content requires you to sign up for a free account, but you can also use Tubi without doing so.
MailOnline discovered that Tubi also extracted an email address from stored data in Google’s Chrome browser.
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
Fans of Mary Berry will be pleased to hear that Tubi has a wide selection of the beloved British cooking shows
Tubi also claims that its platform uses βmachine learningβ to provide a personalized experience for each customer.
When Tubi launches in the UK, it will do so with 20,000 movies and TV episodes available β though this is less than the 240,000 movies and TV episodes available in the US.
Since the acquisition by Fox, US customers also get access to 250 live sports and news channels. Customers in the UK will also see these.
But even without that additional content, Tubi claims to have one of the largest and most diverse collections of TV and film content available in the UK.
For comparison, Netflix offers 5,000 movies and 2,500 TV series.
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)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (pictured) and Eclipse are among the Twilight films on Tubi in the UK
Cult Channel 4’s sitcom Fresh Meat is among the wide selection of comedies on Tubi
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.
But unlike its competitors, Tubi doesn’t have an option to pay to get rid of ads.
Netflix introduced the Β£4.99 ad-supported subscription in 2022 as a cheaper alternative to its paid streaming service.
Other streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, have also introduced cheaper subscriptions that require users to watch some advertisements.
The main difference is that Netflix customers can pay to remove the ads by upgrading to the standard Β£10.99 plan.
David Salmon, EVP and Managing Director of International at Tubi, said: ‘At a time when traditional programming feels homogenous and finding the right show seems like a chore, Tubi has proven successful in creating content that goes beyond the monoculture, with content that appeals to a diverse and vibrant fandom.
‘We believe we can create a brilliant, broad and culturally ambitious offering that puts British audiences back at the heart of the experience and makes it fun and easy to enjoy great entertainment from around the world.’