One year after partnering with Tubi, News Australia says the free ad-supported streaming platform has delivered record growth across key audience metrics – strengthening the publisher’s push into connected TV and giving advertisers a bigger slice of Australia’s rapidly expanding FAST streaming market.
Viewed hours on the platform surged 40% year-on-year, while daily active users climbed 30% and monthly active users rose 27%, according to internal metrics comparing January–February 2025 with the same period in 2026.
The milestone marks the first anniversary of News Australia’s exclusive commercial partnership with Tubi, announced in March 2025, which extended the publisher’s video footprint into the living room through connected TV.
For advertisers, the pitch is straightforward: premium video inventory, a large and growing audience, and ad formats designed for the big screen.
Lou Barrett, Managing Director of Client Partnerships at News Australia.
Completing News Australia’s all-screens strategy
The partnership has helped News Australia broaden its video offering beyond mobile and desktop, positioning Tubi as the final piece of its cross-platform video strategy.
The platform now enables brands to reach audiences across the full daily media cycle – from morning news consumption on mobile through to evening streaming sessions on connected televisions.
Lou Barrett, Managing Director of Client Partnerships at News Australia, said the platform’s momentum comes down to its core proposition: free entertainment at scale.
“Tubi’s growth comes down to one simple thing: real value for consumers. It offers an unmatched choice, completely free,” Barrett said.
“For advertisers, that translates to access to Australia’s fastest-growing streaming audience – lean-back viewers in a premium, full-screen environment with unskippable ads.”
A massive free streaming library
Part of Tubi’s appeal lies in its sheer scale.
The platform now offers more than 125,000 movies and TV episodes, making it the largest free streaming library available to Australian audiences.
In the past year, the catalogue has expanded with licensing deals bringing in Hollywood content and fan-favourite series from partners including Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Village Roadshow.
At the same time, the service is building cultural traction through initiatives such as the Creatorverse and a growing slate of Tubi Originals.
Titles including How to Lose a Popularity Contest and Kissing Is the Easy Part have both reached the number one spot on the platform, signalling strong engagement from younger streaming audiences.
David Salmon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of International at Tubi.
FAST streaming heats up in Australia
The results arrive as FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) platforms gain traction in Australia, offering viewers subscription-free access to large on-demand libraries supported entirely by advertising.
Globally, Tubi now entertains more than 100 million monthly active users, and the company sees Australia as a strategic growth market.
David Salmon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, International at Tubi, said the first year of the News Australia partnership had accelerated the platform’s local adoption.
“Twelve months ago, we set out to prove that free streaming could compete with subscription services in one of the world’s most sophisticated media markets,” Salmon said.
“The results speak for themselves – Australians are watching more, staying longer, and building viewing habits that keep them coming back.”
Competition in the FAST space is intensifying globally, with platforms such as Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, and Roku Channel expanding their ad-supported offerings.
For publishers and broadcasters, the model is becoming increasingly attractive – unlocking new connected TV inventory at a time when advertisers are chasing premium video environments and measurable streaming audiences.
Advertising capabilities set to expand in 2026
For News Australia, Tubi is now positioned as a key pillar of its video proposition for marketers.
The company said expanded content partnerships and enhanced advertising capabilities are expected to roll out across the platform throughout 2026.
As FAST streaming continues to grow, the bet is that free content – paired with premium CTV advertising – will become an increasingly important part of the Australian video landscape.