Tubi viewers left disappointed over 'bad' selection of shows - as free streaming service set to rival Netflix is launched in the UK
- Tubi arrives in the UK but its library of shows and films is smaller than in the US
- READ MORE: What is Tubi? New streaming service launches in the UK
Free video streaming service Tubi has launched today in the UK – offering Brits an alternative to giants like Netflix and Disney+.
Tubi, owned by US media giant fox, doesn't require any payment and instead shows adverts during and after content.
But early users are being left disappointed by the selection of TV and films available – described as 'so bad' and nothing like the US version.
On social media site X, one user called UK Tubi 'like the discount DVD section' of a rental store, while another said it is just 'not ready yet'.
Tubi launches in the UK with 20,000 movies and TV episodes available – although this is far less than the 240,000 movies and TV episodes available in the US.
Tubi is completely free, but users have to endure adverts during and after their favourite content, much like rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
One user said UK Tubi was like walking into the discount DVD section at a rubbish rental store, while the US version is 'a thrill'
Tubi UK includes classic TV shows like Twilight and Fresh Meat as well as classic blockbusters such as Kill Bill, Billy Elliot and Casino.
There's also an extensive selection of cooking shows by British cooks Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood – stars of 'The Great British Bake Off'.
But there are many little-known, low-budget selections that have left British streaming fans bemused.
One user said they searched for hits like 'Babylon 5' and 'NYPD Blue' before being presented with bizarre equivalents – 'Babylon', a 2023 documentary, and 'Blue', a 2019 foreign film, respectively.
Another user called the US version of Tubi a 'thrill' thanks to its extensive catalogue, but this doesn't seem to have transferred over to the UK.
He called it: 'like the discount DVD section of the worst bodega in town.'
Early users are being left disappointed by the selection of TV and films available - described as 'so bad' and nothing like the US version
Another user made fun of Tubi's seemingly random focus on British cooks Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood - stars of 'The Great British Bake Off'
Both volumes of the Quentin Tarantino classic Kill Bill starring Uma Thurman are available on Tubi UK
Cult Channel 4 sitcom Fresh Meat is among the wide selection of comedy on Tubi
Licensing agreements may be restricting what Tubi UK can currently show; MailOnline has contacted the service for comment.
Interestingly, a lot of the big-name shows and films on Tubi UK are available on other popular streamers, like Netflix and ITVX – showing it hasn't got exclusive rights for them.
But there are also some Tubi exclusives, including 'Festival of the Living Dead', a 2024 zombie film, and 'House of Heat', a Big Brother-style reality show featuring social media influencers.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said Tubi has entered the UK video streaming market at a 'highly competitive time'.
'Being free to use is a major plus point even with ad inclusion, as subscription costs continue to rise on established alternatives such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime,' he told MailOnline.
'As well as thousands of film and TV favourites, it’s great to see Tubi also has its own original content, which continues to be an essential 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 has no option for paying to get rid of ads. Pictured, Jamie Bell and Julie Walters star in Billy Elliot (2000)
Tubi launched in the US back in 2014 and has since gained an impressive following in the US, eventually being purchased by Fox in 2020.
Now, with 80 million monthly viewers TV claims to be the number one advertising-based video-on-demand service in the US.
The reason Tubi is able to offer so much content for free is that it is entirely supported by advertising revenue.
However, according to Tubi, the platform only includes three to five ads (totalling four to six minutes) per viewing hour, occurring every 12 to 15 minutes.
Netflix vaguely claims to have 'a few short ads per hour' – although users are generally exposed to about the same amount.
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