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Tag: Netflix

  • Streaming Wars: Can Tubi’s Exponential Growth Challenge Netflix’s Dominance

    Streaming Wars: Can Tubi’s Exponential Growth Challenge Netflix’s Dominance

    As the streaming wars continue to heat up, a new contender has emerged, threatening to dethrone the reigning king of the industry, Netflix. Tubi, a relatively unknown streaming service, has been quietly gaining steam, with a viewership that is steadily climbing and a user base that has recently exploded.

    Despite its subpar content, Tubi has been making waves in the industry, with 51 million active users and a record-breaking 3.6 billion hours watched in 2022. This growth has caught the attention of industry insiders, who are now asking the question: can Tubi really take on the behemoth that is Netflix?

    On the surface, it may seem like an impossible feat. Netflix, with its deep pockets and vast library of content, seems like an unbeatable force. But Tubi has a few things going for it that could give it an edge in this battle for streaming supremacy.

    For one, Tubi is free. While Netflix requires a monthly subscription fee, Tubi is completely free, like free free, to use. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious viewers who may not be willing to shell out money for a Netflix subscription.

    But perhaps more importantly, Tubi has a unique business model that sets it apart from other streaming services. Unlike Netflix, which creates and produces its own content, Tubi is a platform that licenses content from other studios and networks. This means that Tubi has a massive library of movies and TV shows from a variety of different sources, all available to stream in one place.

    While the quality of Tubi’s content may not be on par with Netflix’s original programming, it does have a lot of popular titles in its library, including classics such as The Terminator and Rocky, as well as more recent hits like Lovecraft Country.

    But can a platform that relies on licensed content really compete with the likes of Netflix, which has invested billions of dollars in creating its own original programming? That remains to be seen. However, Tubi’s growing user base and impressive viewership numbers suggest that there is definitely a market for a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers a wide variety of content.

    One thing is for sure: the streaming wars are far from over. As new players continue to enter the arena, and existing services fight to stay on top, the landscape of the streaming industry is constantly shifting. Only time will tell if Tubi can really dethrone Netflix, but one thing is certain: it’s a battle that is far from over.

  • Netflix’s Next Frontier, Expand its Ads Biz with Free Streaming ‘FAST’ Channels

    Netflix’s Next Frontier, Expand its Ads Biz with Free Streaming ‘FAST’ Channels

    Netflix recently reported its Q4 2022 financial results, and is considering adding a free ad-supported TV (FAST) option to its platform, a move that many media companies are currently exploring as more consumers shift to FAST services. In a recent earnings call, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said,

    We’re open to all these different models that are out there right now, but we’ve got a lot on our plate this year, both with the paid sharing and with our launch of advertising and continuing to this slate of content that we’re trying to drive to our members. So, we are keeping an eye on that segment for sure.”

    While a Netflix FAST channel offering probably won’t happen anytime soon, Sarandos isn’t dismissing the possibility that there’ll be one in the future. When and if Netflix goes through with a FAST option, the move will most likely boost its ad business significantly. According to nScreenMedia, the FAST industry will reach 216 million monthly active users in 2023, driving $4.1 billion in ad revenue.

    Netflix is known to be slow to follow industry trends, having taken many years before former co-CEO Reed Hastings even considered launching a cheaper ad-supported plan. Other streaming services such as Hulu have offered an ad-supported tier for over a decade. But the streaming giant is counting on its ad business to be a big source of income. Overall, it estimates $8.17 billion in revenue for Q1 2023. However, it’s looking like Netflix’s “Basic with Ads” plan isn’t paying off as much as it anticipated, according to a recent Kantar report. Despite being satisfied with the growth of its ads business, which President of Worldwide Advertising Jeremi Gorman noted during an interview that Netflix’s “Basic with Ads” now accounts for only 12% of its subscriber base.

    As the streaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if Netflix chooses to pursue a FAST option and how it could potentially impact the company’s ad revenue and subscriber base. The streaming giant has a lot on its plate this year, with plans to launch paid sharing and continue building its ads offering, but the potential for a FAST option could be a game-changer for Netflix’s future growth. Only time will tell if the streaming giant will take the leap and enter the FAST market, but it’s clear that they are keeping a close eye on this rapidly growing segment.

  • Keanu Reeves May Direct Film Adaptation Of His Comic “BRZRKR”

    Keanu Reeves May Direct Film Adaptation Of His Comic “BRZRKR”

    Hollywood legend Keanu Reeves is thinking about directing Netflix’s film adaptation of BRZRKR, a comic book about an immortal warrior fighting through the ages. Reeves confessed that he hasn’t read Mattson Tomlin’s script yet, but he is considering directing the adaption of his best-selling comic himself.

    First published in 2021 after a successful Kickstarter campaign, BRZRKR is an epic tale that impressed critics and readers alike. The highly cinematic and action-filled story features a warrior that looks just like Reeves beating people to a pulp in different moments in history. The comic book was bound to get a film adaptation and last year Netflix announced that it would transform BRZRKR into a live-action movie and an animated series with two seasons. Surprising no one, the live-action film will star Reeves in the leading role.

    While the animated series is being kept under wraps, the movie got some recent developments after screenwriter Tomlin announced on Twitter last week that he had finished his draft of the BRZRKR movie. Given the short window between that announcement and our interview, it was unlikely that the comic book team had the opportunity to read the script. We had to ask anyway, and Reeves confirmed that he didn’t have the time to go through it. As he told us, “I got it yesterday or two days ago. I haven’t read it yet.” Reeves also told us that it’s still “early days” to consider a director, as they don’t know yet if everyone will sign off on Tomlin’s script. However, Reeves revealed that he has been thinking about directing the movie himself. In fact, Reeves says there’s a “33%” chance of him becoming the director. Not bad odds.

    If Reeves takes the director chair for the BRZRKR live-action film, he could help the adaptation to be faithful to the comic books. On that note, the only director credit in Reeves’ career was for 2013’s Man of Tai Chi, a movie he took over because he was part of the writing process and felt really attached to it. So, according to Reeves, the same could happen if he likes Tomlin’s script. As he puts it:

    “I know how it’s a lot of work, but the film that I directed, Man of Tai Chi, was born, I became the director because I was part of the writing process, and I didn’t want to hand it over. I was like, oh, okay. I have to direct this. I’m not quite there yet on ‘BRZRKR’. I have to read the script, but I’m also interested in having a collaborator and what they could bring to it.”

    After learning of this extraordinary possibility, all we can do is agree with Garney who said to Reeves during the interview, “Get that percentage up, man. I mean, I think it’s all you. You should be doing it. Clint Eastwood does it. I mean, you can do it, I think you, it’s your thing.”

    There’s no release date for the BRZRKR movie or the animated series. Stay tuned for our full interview with Reeves, Kindt, and Garney. Until then, here’s Keanu Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, and producer Akiva Goldsman reflecting on the making of the 2005 DC Comics adaptation Constantine for its 15th anniversary.