‘Tubi’ Is Rumored to Be Planning a Pass to Original Programming
- Tubi is negotiating with advertisers to support the creation of original series.
- Based on rumors and statements, the new content will be cost-efficient and not ultra-expensive.
- This could be more like a booster than an attempt to enter the crowded space of subscription-based giants.
Tubi, the free and ad-supported streaming platform that was passed to Fox Corp for $440 million a year ago, is now rumored to be planning a significant shift that will see it jump to being an original programming platform. According to a piece by Bloomberg that cites internal anonymous sources, Tubi will start producing a new TV series and is planning to allocate $4 million for each episode. Currently, Tubi’s people discuss with advertisers and partners, so the situation is still fluid.
Once these talks have been concluded, Tubi will be in a position to make official announcements. Obviously, creating original content costs money, and supporting this venture for a free streaming platform isn’t simple. That said, Tubi will either have to set up more aggressive advertising or introduce a subscription tier. Whether or not Tubi has a large and dedicated enough userbase to support either move or if they even plan to take any approach of this type in the first place remains to be seen.
There are some indications that Tubi isn’t going to change its business model, and while they will create original content, it won’t be budget-smashing stuff. Just last week, CFO at Fox, Steve Tomsic, told investors that Tubi is estimated to generate around $300 million in advertising revenue this year - and that some of this will go into producing original content. However, these will be mainly “cheap and cheerful” titles. Whatever that means, it indicates that it’s gonna be budget-minded, but that doesn’t mean this content won’t be able to generate interest and viewerships.
If you’re looking for free streaming, Tubi is an amazing choice - but it’s not the only one out there. Check out this list with another 15 free-to-use platforms and also a bonus of four sites that only require you to sign up. Also, don’t forget to check this list which gives you the same thing but in the form of apps, and also this top ten for sports streaming specifically. If it is free music streaming that you’re looking for, check out this list with the eight best choices you have right now.