Thanks to a diverse media library and no financial barrier to entry, Tubi has emerged as the streamer of choice among a new generation of content consumers. Now, the Fox-owned FAST service seeks to extend its purple reign over that prized demographic by giving a leg-up to a new generation of content creators.
Enter Stubios, an original initiative that grants Tubi’s young audience a big say in generating the original long-form content they’ll want to stream. Launching today, Stubios invites emerging creatives to apply to be Stubiorunners and take those all-important first steps toward making their first feature film or docuseries a reality on a big-time streaming platform.
Meanwhile, Tubi watchers can be a part of their journey by signing up for a free Stubios account and registering their opinions about various aspects of the production—be it the cast or the first trailer—as it takes shape. They’ll also provide the final say for whether each Stubiorunner gets a second bite at the proverbial Hollywood apple.
Tubi, a former NewFronts presenter known for reaching new audiences, will closely monitor fan engagement and viewership numbers. Once a certain threshold is reached, the creator’s sophomore project gets an automatic greenlight.
“Essentially, we’re passing the camera to anyone who has a story to tell, and we’re putting the greenlight power into the hands of the viewers,” Tubi CMO Nicole Parlapiano told ADWEEK. “We’re describing Stubios as a fan-fueled studio that’s also a platform for aspiring filmmakers and their fans.”
Freshman class
Since this is Stubios’ pilot season, Tubi is piloting the program with three out of the four inaugural Stubiorunners already selected. One member of the 2024 freshman class is Lady London, a Bronx-born rapper whose freestyles regularly go viral online. She’s pitching a docuseries that takes fans inside the recording studio as she puts together her first album.
Tubi plans to release details about the other two pre-selected Stubiorunners later this month and is keeping the fourth and final spot open for a “wild card” candidate to emerge from the application process. But the platform already knows the kind of creator it wants to spotlight.
