By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Fox Corporation's UK Streaming Ambitions
Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation is entering the UK's competitive free, ad supported video streaming market with Tubi. This platform will compete with major players like Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4's streaming service, and the BBC iPlayer. In the US, Tubi has rapidly gained market share, boasting nearly 80 million monthly active users, according to Fox.
Diverse Content Offerings
In the UK, Tubi promises to deliver over 20,000 films and TV series, featuring content from Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The platform will also showcase a variety of British, Indian, and Nigerian content. UK viewers can access Tubi through its webpage or a smartphone app. Anjali Sud, Tubi's chief executive, stated, "Tubi has spent the last decade honing our approach to vast, free and fun streaming in North America, and we feel that now is the perfect time to bring that recipe to UK audiences."
Strategic Acquisition and Market Dynamics
Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020 for $440 million (£348 million) to attract younger audiences. Recently, streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have introduced ad supported services and increased subscription prices to boost revenues. These changes come as the companies face pressure to expand their content libraries and attract more customers in an increasingly competitive market.
TalkTV's Shift and Murdoch's Broadcasting Legacy
In March, Murdoch's TalkTV network announced it would cease broadcasting as a terrestrial television channel, transitioning to a strictly online service. The network, which launched in 2022, struggled to attract viewers on its linear platform. Murdoch had hoped TalkTV would offer an opinion led alternative to established outlets and shake up the broadcasting establishment. Murdoch, who significantly impacted the UK's broadcasting industry by launching Sky in 1984, sold his 21st Century Fox's 39% stake in Sky to NBCUniversal's owner Comcast in 2018 after losing a bidding war for the network.