NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tubi has exploded in popularity over the last 18 months, establishing itself as one of the most popular streaming outfits in the United States, U.S. media reported Tuesday.
"The streaming service, which is owned by the Fox Corporation, runs a different business model from those competitors," reported The New York Times. In addition to being free, with revenue coming from advertising, it doesn't require an account to use. And it comfortably commands more engagement than those peers, according to Nielsen.
Tubi consistently outranks Peacock, Max, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ in total viewing time, and is drawing even with Disney+, with only YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Hulu still ahead, according to the report.
Unlike its biggest rivals, which allocate huge budgets for original programs or premium sports rights like the NFL or the NBA, Tubi's library contains tens of thousands of older shows and movies, many that seem to have been collected from the bargain bin. Meanwhile, Tubi makes some original shows and movies, but often at a low budget, the report said.
Fox bought Tubi for 440 million U.S. dollars in 2020, the media company's effort to move into streaming. It has since become something of a favorite for Lachlan Murdoch, Fox's chief executive. Rich Greenfield, an analyst at LightShed Partners, said that consumers have become increasingly tolerant of commercials on streaming, and Tubi's popularity boils down to one thing: "People love free."
