Observed Signal · Nov 30, 2025 · Partnership · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Tubi and Hartbeat Launch Creator-to-Hollywood Pipeline
Tubi, Fox’s free FAST streamer, partnered with Kevin Hart’s production company Hartbeat on an exclusive four-film production deal for its “Tubi for Creators” program. The slate is intended to create a direct pathway for digital creators to star in and produce feature films for mass audiences. The first two announced titles are the supernatural thriller Sundown, written/directed/starring creator Kinigra Deon, and the satirical horror-comedy 85 South: Dead End, featuring podcast trio DC Young Fly, Chico Bean and Karlous Miller. The deal marks a strategic shift from Tubi’s initial creator licensing approach (which included names like MrBeast and CelinaSpookyBoo) toward financing ground-up feature films that leverage creators’ built-in fanbases to reduce marketing risk and attract younger viewers to the FAST platform.
Represents a strategic content and audience acquisition shift for a FAST/CTV platform — creator-led, studio-backed originals can influence programming strategies, promotional mechanics, and ad inventory targeting on ad-supported streaming services.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Tubi and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat agreed an exclusive production deal for four original films under the “Tubi for Creators” program.
- The first two announced films are Sundown (creator Kinigra Deon) and 85 South: Dead End (featuring DC Young Fly, Chico Bean, and Karlous Miller).
- This is the first exclusive production deal for Tubi’s creator program, shifting from licensing existing creator content to financing original feature films.
- Tubi previously licensed content from high-profile creators such as MrBeast and CelinaSpookyBoo as part of its creator strategy.
- Tubi and Hartbeat intend to leverage creators’ existing fanbases to de-risk film investments and compete for younger FAST/CTV audiences.
Connected Companies & Entities
8 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Tubi Turns YouTube Hits into Streaming Exclusives
Tubi is expanding beyond licensed movies and FAST channels by investing in creator-led programming and exclusive content deals. The streaming service added an exclusive new six-episode season of Donut Media’s HiLow—titled HiLow: $5K Civic vs. $50K Civic—and is promoting creator content alongside recent partnerships (including deals with SiriusXM and comedian/producer KevOnStage). Donut Media says HiLow has generated more than 200 million views and its YouTube channel has surpassed 3 billion total views. Tubi — which the article says reaches more than 100 million monthly active users — also reports its creator program includes over 20,000 episodes from 300+ creators and recently added five new free live channels (Jubilee, Law & Crime, Mythical 24/7, Love Island, Paternity Court). The moves illustrate Tubi’s strategy to differentiate its AVOD/FAST offering by leveraging creator audiences and video podcasts.
Tubi Teams Up with TikTok Stars for Original Content
Fox-owned streaming service Tubi launched the "Creatorverse Incubator" in partnership with TikTok to support social creators in producing original, exclusive series for Tubi. The program offers creators promotional support and potential funding, and will allow selected creators to produce scripted or unscripted series with creative control. Tubi plans to announce the first cohort later this summer. The move builds on prior creator initiatives — including a program bringing YouTube creators like Mythical Entertainment and other efforts such as partnerships with Kickstarter and the "Stubios" filmmaker program — and aims to attract younger viewers to Tubi’s ad-supported platform, which reports more than 100 million monthly active users. TechCrunch notes Tubi’s ad-supported viewing share grew (Nielsen) from 2.2% in May 2025 to 6.2% in Q4 2025, and that Tubi reached profitability in 2024.
Tubi Expands Creator Partnership with KevOnStage
Tubi announced an expanded creator partnership with comedian and digital creator Kevin “KevOnStage” Fredericks that adds multiple original projects to the free streaming platform. The slate includes Safe Space seasons 2 (returns June 11) and 3 (July 2027), a new scripted series The Airport (premieres November 2026), a stand-up special Grief Sucks (debuting February 21, 2027), and two feature films (a 2027 holiday comedy and a 2028 horror comedy). Tubi executive Rich Bloom framed the deal as part of Tubi’s effort to scale creator-led programming via its Tubi for Creators initiative, which launched in June 2025 and now hosts thousands of creator episodes and partnerships.
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