Tubi
Tubi launched on the 1st of April 2014 as a free streaming service in San Francisco, California. Farhad Massoudi and Thomas Ahn Hicks founded the company under the name Tubi TV while working at AdRise. The founders aimed to build an ad-supported platform that required no subscription fees from users. In May 2017, the company secured US$20 million in funding from Jump Capital, Danhua Capital, Cota Capital, and Foundation Capital. This capital injection allowed Tubi to expand its library and improve technology infrastructure. By June 2019, the service reported over 20 million active monthly users. Later that same month, Tubi announced that viewers had streamed 132 million hours of content. The rapid growth demonstrated strong consumer demand for free video-on-demand options during this period.
On the 17th of March 2020, Fox Corporation announced plans to acquire Tubi for $440 million in cash upfront payments. The deal officially closed on the 20th of April 2020 after regulatory approvals were granted. Massoudi remained with the company following the transaction while operating as a separate subsidiary within the larger media conglomerate. Fox Corporation had recently been spun off from 21st Century Fox following Disney's acquisition of that entity one year prior. In December 2021, Fox acquired MarVista Entertainment to bolster Tubi's production capabilities for made-for-TV films. This strategic move strengthened the platform's ability to create original content independently. By January 2023, Tubi signed a new content deal with Warner Bros. Discovery adding nine FAST channels and DC Comics shows available only on demand. Anjali Sud was appointed CEO in July 2023 following Massoudi's departure from leadership roles.
Tubi expanded internationally starting in November 2015 when AdRise partnered with Blue Ant Media to launch operations in Canada. The service became inaccessible throughout the European Union due to GDPR regulations entering into force on the 25th of May 2018. Tubi later announced it would relaunch in the United Kingdom by early 2019 while working toward compliance with European data protection laws. Official launches occurred in Australia and New Zealand on the 1st of September 2019 covering the Oceania region. Mexico became the first Latin American country to receive the service through a partnership with TV Azteca in January 2020. Additional expansion followed in August 2022 when the platform launched simultaneously in Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama. Shaw Communications partnered with Tubi in July 2022 to make the service available to all its Canadian customers. The United Kingdom officially received the platform again in July 2024 after years of regulatory delays.
As of January 2023, Tubi offered more than 40,000 films and television series from over 250 providers including both American and foreign content distributors. Major studios signed distribution deals such as NBCUniversal which provided 400 TV episodes and films in February 2019. Warner Bros. Discovery contributed additional FAST channels and on-demand content through agreements finalized in January 2023 and December 2023. South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM licensed numerous Korean-language films, television series, and K-pop programs starting in December 2022. This category became one of Tubi's fastest-growing segments globally. Other partners included Sony Pictures Television, CBS Media Ventures, Paramount Pictures Distribution, and BBC Studios among many others listed in their extensive catalog. The platform also inherited former MundoFox game show Minuto para Ganar through its Español hub while maintaining access to shows previously aired on Fox's 4Kids TV block like Chaotic and Sonic X.
Tubi began producing its own original content in 2021 following the acquisition by Fox Corporation. The service released television films and series across multiple genres including drama, comedy, animation, and unscripted programming. Notable releases included The Nevers season 1B premiering on the 14th of February 2023 and Boarders season 2 launching the 17th of April 2025. Comedy titles featured The Z-Suite workplace comedy debuting the 6th of February 2025 alongside Demascus science fiction comedy arriving the 7th of August 2025. Animation projects included The Freak Brothers adult animated comedy which ended after its initial run on the 14th of November 2021. Unscripted docuseries covered true crime topics with titles like Meet Marry Murder ending the 6th of October 2021 and TMZ No BS Celebrity concluding the 12th of February 2023. Reality programs such as Nick Cannon's Big Drive ran from the 15th of February 2024 until completion. Variety shows included Kitchen Commando cooking show that finished the 12th of February 2023 and We Got Time Today talk show still pending renewal status as of late 2024.
Tubi secured rights to stream live matches from the NBA G League, UEFA Nations League, CONCACAF competitions, and Liga MX leagues through Fox Sports channels available on the platform. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Tubi offered all matches on-demand thirty minutes after they concluded for viewers worldwide. The service broadcast select games live during the 2023 World Baseball Classic tournament. Super Bowl LIX coverage aired freely on the 9th of February 2025 alongside a unique pregame show produced exclusively by Tubi. International agreements expanded access starting the 18th of December 2024 when Liga MX home games of León and Pachuca clubs became available free in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. CONCACAF announced Tubi acquired broadcasting rights for the Champions Cup in Mexico on the 3rd of February 2025. Premier League matches covering fifty percent of fixtures began streaming in Mexico and Central America from Matchday 26 of the 2024-25 season. Additional partnerships included FA Cup television rights and home games for FC Juárez Men's and Women's teams plus Tigres broadcasts held by Azteca Deportes.
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Common questions
When did Tubi launch and who founded the company?
Tubi launched on the 1st of April 2014 as a free streaming service in San Francisco, California. Farhad Massoudi and Thomas Ahn Hicks founded the company under the name Tubi TV while working at AdRise.
Who acquired Tubi and when did the deal close?
Fox Corporation announced plans to acquire Tubi for $440 million in cash upfront payments on the 17th of March 2020. The deal officially closed on the 20th of April 2020 after regulatory approvals were granted.
In which countries has Tubi expanded internationally since its founding?
Tubi expanded internationally starting in November 2015 with operations in Canada and official launches occurred in Australia and New Zealand on the 1st of September 2019. Mexico became the first Latin American country to receive the service through a partnership with TV Azteca in January 2020.
How many films and television series does Tubi offer as of January 2023?
As of January 2023, Tubi offered more than 40,000 films and television series from over 250 providers including both American and foreign content distributors. Major studios signed distribution deals such as NBCUniversal which provided 400 TV episodes and films in February 2019.
What original content has Tubi produced since 2021?
Tubi began producing its own original content in 2021 following the acquisition by Fox Corporation and released titles like The Nevers season 1B premiering on the 14th of February 2023. Notable releases included Boarders season 2 launching the 17th of April 2025 and The Freak Brothers adult animated comedy ending after its initial run on the 14th of November 2021.