Fox-owned streaming service Tubi has launched “Scenes,” a revolutionary feature that transforms its vast library of movies and TV shows into bite-sized entertainment. This strategic initiative positions the free ad-supported platform to compete with social media giants while revolutionizing content discovery in the streaming landscape.
The newly released feature provides access to over 250,000 clips from popular titles including “Django Unchained,” “I Am Legend,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” offering viewers 60-90 second excerpts designed for quick consumption. Following successful testing in August, the feature is now available to all users on both iOS and Android mobile platforms.
Mike Bidgoli, Tubi’s chief product and technology officer, emphasizes the feature’s alignment with modern viewing habits. We want to meet the viewers where they are, which on mobile means they’re on the go,” he explains, acknowledging that mobile users often seek entertainment during brief breaks rather than extended viewing sessions.
Unlike TikTok’s reported venture into minute-long TV-style shows, Tubi’s approach focuses on leveraging existing content to drive viewers toward full-length programming. The feature incorporates familiar social media elements, including a vertical feed format and interactive elements such as “Like,” “Save,” and “Watch” buttons, making the transition between short-form and traditional content seamless.
The platform’s sophisticated machine learning engine personalizes the viewing experience based on user interactions, particularly through the “My List” feature. This technological foundation ensures that recommendations become increasingly refined as users engage with the platform, creating a more tailored entertainment experience.
Tubi’s innovation extends beyond mobile viewing, offering casting capabilities to various streaming devices including Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku. This cross-platform functionality maintains the service’s accessibility while catering to different viewing preferences.
Looking ahead, Tubi has ambitious plans for Scenes’ evolution. The company is considering integrating the feature into its main content grid and potentially enabling social media sharing capabilities. However, the platform is taking a measured approach to social features, with Bidgoli emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive user environment.
This launch represents a significant shift in Tubi’s mobile strategy, with the company planning to increase its focus on mobile app experiences over the next six to twelve months. The move comes after the platform’s previous experimentation with features like the ChatGPT-powered Rabbit AI search tool, which was recently discontinued.
The introduction of Scenes marks a pivotal moment in the streaming industry’s adaptation to changing viewer preferences. By combining the accessibility of short-form content with its extensive library of traditional programming, Tubi is creating a unique hybrid model that could influence how streaming services approach content discovery and engagement.
This development arrives at a crucial time in the streaming landscape, as services struggle to maintain user engagement and compete with social media platforms for attention. Tubi’s approach acknowledges the reality of fragmented viewing habits while providing a bridge to more substantial content consumption.
The success of Scenes could set a new standard for how streaming services adapt to mobile-first viewing habits while maintaining their traditional content offerings. As the streaming industry continues to evolve, Tubi’s innovative approach might prove to be a blueprint for how traditional media platforms can successfully compete in an increasingly short-form world.
For advertisers and content creators, this new feature opens up fresh opportunities to reach audiences through more digestible formats while maintaining connections to full-length content. This balance between quick engagement and sustained viewing could represent the future of streaming content discovery and consumption.
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