Here's the story Netflix doesn't want me to tell you:

A filmmaker in Detroit shot a horror film for $285,000. Netflix offered him $150,000 for perpetual rights – basically asking him to give up ownership forever for half what he spent making it.

He told them to kick rocks, took his film to Tubi instead, and within 12 months, he was cashing monthly checks that made Netflix's offer look like lunch money.

This isn't some unicorn story. It's happening every damn day while filmmakers keep begging for Netflix deals like Stockholm Syndrome victims.

Tubi's Domination By The Numbers

While everyone was busy arguing about Netflix's password-sharing crackdown, Tubi quietly built an empire:

• 97 million monthly active users as of January 2025

• 10 billion streaming hours watched in 2024 alone

• Nearly half the audience is multicultural

• 34% of viewers are aged 18-34

• 77% don't have cable

Tubi is now outperforming subscription giants like Peacock, Paramount+, and Apple TV+. Let that sink in: a FREE platform is beating services people actually pay for.

Why Black Creators Should Take Tubi Seriously

As a kid, I loved getting together with my friends to watch reruns of The Jeffersons and Good Times on our old tube TV. Those sitcoms had us laughing out loud, but they also delved into the Black experience in ways that my school textbooks completely ignored.

That same vibe exists today on Tubi, where Black creators aren't just tolerated – they're celebrated.

The numbers don't lie:

• 21% of Tubi's audience is Black – significantly higher than the percentage in the general U.S. population

• Black viewership grew 58% from 2022 to 2023

• Multicultural audiences now form 49% of Tubi's total viewership

Compare that to Netflix, which keeps buying Black trauma narratives while systematically undervaluing content creators.

The Money Machine Hollywood Doesn't Want You To Know About

Let's get to what actually matters: how Tubi turns viewership into creator revenue.

Lisa Brown's Dirty D series reportedly earned seven figures across multiple titles. How? By skipping Hollywood's gatekeepers, going straight to Tubi, and pocketing ad revenue from day one.

Here's how the money flows:

1. You upload your completed film to Tubi

2. Viewers watch your film (with ads)

3. You get paid based on watch time and ad impressions

4. You keep all your rights and can distribute elsewhere simultaneously

5. No recoupment bullshit, no 10-year lock-up period

One filmmaker I spoke with (who asked to remain anonymous) told me his horror anthology is generating $23,000-$28,000 monthly on Tubi after being rejected by every major streamer. "Netflix said it wasn't 'premium enough' for them. Now I'm making more than their development executives while owning my IP."

The Platform For Creators Hollywood Ignores

CEO Anjali Sud says Tubi will "invest in viewer experiences" rather than chase mega-franchises. This philosophy creates a unique opportunity for films targeting specific communities.

When Hollywood executives tell you your story is "too niche" or "won't travel," remember that:

• Tubi doesn't need your film to reach 20 million viewers

• Tubi succeeds when passionate niche audiences find content made specifically for them

• Tubi's recommendation engine is designed to match viewers with content they'll love

A couple of years ago, we were developing a crypto documentary we thought had serious potential. We were fixated on landing it at one of the big subscription streamers and never seriously considered Tubi.

When a very smart advisor casually suggested it, we dismissed the idea because we believed the Hollywood party line: "Tubi is just a dumping ground for crappy, ultra-low-budget fare."

That decision cost us dearly. If we'd shot our project on a scrappy budget and brought it to Tubi, we might have found a dedicated audience and sustainable revenue long before the big platforms gave us the time of day.

Instead, we let an outdated perception steer us away from a genuine opportunity.

Don't make our mistake.

The Super Bowl Strategy

While you weren't looking, Tubi partnered with FOX Sports to stream the Super Bowl, setting a record for the most-streamed Super Bowl in history.

This isn't just about sports – it's about Tubi's strategy to capture massive audiences that traditional media is failing to serve properly.

Imagine what they could do with the World Cup in 2026. If Tubi pulls this off, it may reshape how millions discover and follow the world's most popular game.

How To Make Tubi Work For You

Ready to stop begging Netflix for pennies? Here's how to leverage Tubi's platform:

1. Know Your Audience - Tubi works best for content with clear, passionate audience segments

2. Own Your Rights - Never sign exclusive deals; Tubi thrives on non-exclusive content

3. Build A Series - Multiple related titles perform better than one-offs

4. Optimize For The Algorithm - Clear titles, strong thumbnails, and genre-specific keywords

5. Promote Directly To Your Audience - Tubi won't market your film; that's on you

The filmmakers making real money on Tubi understand one crucial truth: traditional distributors are middlemen extracting value from your relationship with your audience. Tubi lets you connect directly.

Where Tubi Is Heading

Tubi's quiet revolution keeps getting louder. They're broadening their global footprint, creating strategic original series (200 Tubi Originals so far, watched by 54 million viewers), and catering to niche tastes that mainstream streamers often neglect.

Their continued expansion into sports content could open even more opportunities for creators to reach passionate audiences that mainstream platforms undervalue.

The $2 Trillion Opportunity

Tubi is just one piece of the larger diaspora opportunity that Hollywood consistently overlooks. With direct distribution channels like Tubi, creators can tap into the $2 trillion flowing through the global diaspora economy.

This is exactly what we cover in our upcoming workshop, The $2 Trillion Cheat Code – the complete playbook for bypassing Hollywood's extraction economy and connecting directly with audiences willing to pay premium prices for authentic content.

→ Join the waitlist for The $2 Trillion Cheat Code Workshop

The workshop reveals:

• Audience mapping systems that identify overlooked markets

• Deal structures that maintain creator ownership while delivering double-digit returns

• Platform-specific distribution strategies (including Tubi optimization) that generate immediate revenue

• Cross-border capital deployment frameworks that unlock markets traditional financing can't reach

The Bottom Line

Tubi isn't just another streaming service – it's a completely different business model that empowers creators while Hollywood keeps trying to extract maximum value from your work.

The choice is simple: Keep chasing deals that take your rights and pay you pennies, or start building real revenue and ownership through platforms that actually respect creators.

Your move.