Ad-supported video on demand (VOD) platform Tubi has revealed plans to expand its free, premium service to Australia.
Launching on 1 September, customers in Australia will have access to what it is calling the "largest free library" in the country with an initial offering of nearly 7,000 movies and television series, which will rapidly expand in the near future.
Tubi recently announced record growth in the first half of 2019 with customers watching over 94 million hours of content in May alone.
Tubi’s library in the US now has over 15,000 movies and television series – more than 44,000 hours of content available completely free from over 200 content partners including major studios such as Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, MGM, Lionsgate, and others.
“We’re excited to offer Tubi in Australia, as the first of many launch initiatives to advance our global footprint,” Tubi CEO Farhad Massoudi says.
“Our library size in Australia will expand rapidly in the coming months and eventually grow to our current library size in the US of 15,000 titles – and beyond. We look forward to further activating new audiences who will discover the growing value of free video on demand.”
Customers in Australia will be able to access Tubi via Telstra TV, Tubi.TV, or through nearly any internet-connected screen including Samsung TV’s, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast and Apple iOS, as well as Android tablets and smartphones. The service will also be available via game consoles, including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Titles immediately available on the service will include 3:10 to Yuma, The Blair Witch Project, Kickboxer and Stranger Than Fiction, with additional titles to be made available over the next six months, including Dirty Dancing, The Grudge, Requiem for a Dream, Reservoir Dogs, Saw, Traffic and Young Guns.
Tubi is the latest platform to reveal its intent to join Australia's ongoing streaming war, which includes the likes of Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime, 10 All Access, Hayu, Kayo and Foxtel Now.
Last week Disney revealed its plans to launch its streaming service Disney+ into Australia, with a local launch date of 19 November. The company is also going on a hiring run for its Melbourne office and appointed a new head of streaming, Sally O'Donoghue.
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