How to Get Your Channel on Pluto TV, Tubi & Roku: A Complete Guide for Streaming Businesses

Launching a streaming channel is no longer limited to major television networks and Hollywood studios. Independent filmmakers, production companies, content distributors, broadcasters, and OTT businesses can now reach connected-TV audiences through free, ad-supported streaming services.

The short answer: to get your channel on Pluto TV, Tubi, or Roku, you need documented distribution rights, a professionally packaged catalogue (metadata, artwork, captions, and delivery files), and a proposal sent through each platform's own partner route. Pluto TV takes channel and content proposals through its partner page, Tubi acquires titles through licensing relationships, and Roku accepts title submissions for The Roku Channel. Roku also lets you publish your own branded app in the Roku Channel Store, which is a separate route. No platform guarantees acceptance.

Each service has its own content acquisition process, distribution model, technical requirements, and commercial terms. Some opportunities involve licensing individual titles, while others involve distributing an entire linear channel or launching a branded streaming app.

This guide explains how to get your channel on Pluto TV, Tubi, and Roku, what you need before applying, how monetization works, and how to prepare your business for distribution.

What Are Pluto TV, Tubi, and Roku?

Pluto TV, Tubi, and The Roku Channel are free, ad-supported streaming services, but each acquires content differently. Pluto TV centers on linear channels, Tubi on on-demand movies and series, and The Roku Channel on a mix of both.

Although all three operate in the free, ad-supported streaming ecosystem, they are not interchangeable.

Pluto TV is particularly relevant to businesses interested in traditional television-style programming delivered over the internet. Tubi is strongly associated with on-demand entertainment, although its programming and distribution partnerships extend beyond movies on demand. The Roku Channel offers both on-demand and linear programming.

An important distinction: The Roku Channel is not the same as publishing your own app in the Roku Channel Store. The first involves distributing or licensing content to Roku's own service; the second involves building and publishing a branded streaming app on Roku devices.

Your distribution strategy should reflect which of these outcomes you want to achieve.

1. How to Get Your Channel on Pluto TV

To get a channel on Pluto TV, define a focused channel concept, secure the rights to every title, package your programming and stream, and submit a proposal through Pluto TV's official partner page. If the content team is interested, onboarding covers rights, technical validation, and commercial terms.

Pluto TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service offering curated linear channels and on-demand programming. Its model makes it worth exploring for businesses that own a substantial content library or operate a channel built around a consistent theme, often called a FAST channel (free ad-supported streaming television).

For example, a distributor with a library of classic films might pitch a dedicated movie channel, while a production company with a strong catalogue of documentaries could explore a documentary-focused programming concept.

Step 1: Define your channel concept

Start by deciding what your proposed channel will offer and why viewers would watch it.

Potential concepts include:

• Movies organized around a particular genre.

• Classic television and archival entertainment.

• Documentaries and factual programming.

• Food, lifestyle, travel, or educational content.

• Regional entertainment and multilingual programming.

• News, sports, or other specialist programming, subject to rights and platform requirements.

A focused concept is generally easier to communicate than a channel containing unrelated videos. Explain the intended audience, content categories, programming strategy, and what differentiates your channel from existing offerings.

Step 2: Secure your distribution rights

Before submitting a proposal, confirm that you have the legal authority to distribute every title included in your pitch.

Depending on the content, this may involve:

• Digital and streaming distribution rights.

• Rights for the intended territories.

• Advertising-supported distribution rights.

• Linear channel and video-on-demand rights, where applicable.

• Music, footage, talent, and other necessary clearances.

• Appropriate rights for any third-party or licensed content.

Owning a video file does not automatically mean you own the rights to distribute it through a commercial streaming service.

Step 3: Prepare your programming and technical materials

Organize your catalogue into a professional content package. Include a title list, descriptions, durations, genres, release dates, ratings, artwork, captions, and available language information.

For a linear channel, also prepare a programming plan and explain how you will maintain a reliable stream, typically using FAST channel playout software. Technical delivery requirements depend on the agreed distribution arrangement.

Pluto TV's published delivery guidance covers content formatting, metadata, feed delivery, and live-stream specifications. Its live-stream documentation identifies HLS among its preferred delivery options and calls for stream testing before launch.

Step 4: Contact Pluto TV's distribution team

Pluto TV provides an official partner page for content and distribution inquiries: Pluto TV Partners.

Introduce your business, summarize the content you control, describe your proposed channel, and explain the audiences and territories you can serve. Include a concise catalogue overview and links to representative programming or a secure screener where appropriate.

Avoid sending an unstructured collection of video links. A clear proposal makes it easier for a content team to understand your offering.

Step 5: Complete the partnership and onboarding process

If Pluto TV is interested, the next steps may involve rights negotiations, content review, technical validation, metadata delivery, and commercial discussions.

The exact process depends on the partnership. Acceptance is not guaranteed, and there is no universal submission timeline that applies to every channel.

2. How to Get Your Content on Tubi

To get content on Tubi, build a rights-cleared catalogue, confirm your agreements allow ad-supported (AVOD) distribution, prepare a professional pitch, and approach Tubi's content acquisition team directly or through a distributor. Tubi mainly licenses on-demand movies and series rather than offering an open route for independent channels.

Tubi is an ad-supported streaming service focused primarily on on-demand movies and TV shows, with additional programming and distribution partnerships. It can be relevant to independent filmmakers, studios, production companies, and distributors looking to license content to a larger streaming audience.

One key consideration: getting a movie or series onto Tubi is different from launching a dedicated branded channel on the service.

Step 1: Evaluate your content library

Begin with an inventory of the films, episodes, and other programming you can legally distribute.

Your catalogue should clearly identify:

• Titles, genres, and release years.

• Episode and film runtimes.

• Available languages and subtitles.

• Content ratings and age suitability.

• Distribution rights and permitted territories.

• Existing licenses or exclusivity restrictions.

• Promotional artwork and metadata.

A catalogue with a clear audience and distribution proposition is easier to evaluate than a collection with incomplete rights information.

There is no publicly guaranteed minimum catalogue size that ensures acceptance. The suitability of your library depends on the platform's acquisition priorities and the terms of a potential deal.

Step 2: Confirm that your rights support AVOD distribution

Tubi's ad-supported model makes commercial rights especially important.

Check whether your agreements permit advertising-supported video-on-demand distribution, whether the rights cover your intended territories, and whether any exclusivity clauses prevent you from licensing the same titles elsewhere.

If you represent independent producers, obtain written authorization showing that you can negotiate and deliver the relevant rights.

Step 3: Prepare a professional content pitch

Your pitch should communicate both the creative value and the commercial suitability of your catalogue.

Include a short company introduction, a list of available titles, genre and audience information, rights availability, territory coverage, and representative screeners.

If you have existing audience or performance data, include figures you can substantiate. Avoid inflated claims about expected viewership or revenue.

Step 4: Approach Tubi through the appropriate route

Tubi acquires and distributes content through business relationships and licensing arrangements. There is no guarantee that a general contact form or an unsolicited pitch will result in a content review.

Start with Tubi's official corporate website and identify the appropriate content acquisition or distribution contact for your business:

• Tubi Corporate

• Tubi Contact

Tubi's general corporate partner form may serve advertising or other commercial inquiries rather than direct content submissions. Verify that you are contacting the correct team before sending your catalogue.

Step 5: Negotiate licensing and delivery terms

If Tubi is interested in your content, review the proposed agreement carefully.

Key commercial points may include:

• Rights granted and territories covered.

• Exclusivity and licensing duration.

• Advertising-supported distribution permissions.

• Revenue arrangements or licensing fees.

• Delivery formats and technical specifications.

• Reporting, content updates, and contractual obligations.

The financial model varies by agreement. Do not assume that every title is accepted under a revenue-share arrangement or that every content owner receives the same terms.

Can you launch your own live channel on Tubi?

It depends on the type of partnership available and Tubi's current programming strategy. Do not assume that Tubi offers an open, self-service process for launching any independent linear channel.

If your main objective is a continuously running, branded television channel, compare Tubi's partnership opportunities with Pluto TV and The Roku Channel before investing in technical delivery.

3. How to Get Your Channel on Roku

There are two ways to get on Roku: license your movies and series to The Roku Channel by submitting Roku's title availability templates, or build and publish your own branded app in the Roku Channel Store. They are separate processes, and one does not lead to the other.

Understanding this distinction can prevent unnecessary development costs and delays.

Option A: Distribute your content through The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is Roku's own streaming service, offering advertising-supported on-demand content and linear programming. This route may suit businesses that own or control movies, television series, and other eligible programming.

Step 1: Prepare your content catalogue. Create a structured list of available films and series, with accurate metadata, rights information, artwork, and technical details.

Step 2: Submit your content proposal. Roku's developer documentation directs content owners interested in The Roku Channel to complete the title availability templates for movies and series and submit them to the designated content submission address. Official guidance is available in the Roku Channel overview and Roku video-on-demand documentation. Roku also recommends considering its preferred aggregators when a rights holder has only a small number of titles.

Step 3: Complete review and onboarding. Roku reviews submitted content against its requirements before publishing. Once accepted, partners may need to complete account setup, content delivery, payout enrollment, and other onboarding steps.

Roku's documentation advises submitting content well in advance. Its published FAQ states that quality-control review can take at least 30 days, with more time possible if issues are found. A passed review may be followed by publication within a few business days, depending on the submission.

Allow enough lead time rather than planning your launch around an assumed approval date.

Option B: Build and publish your own Roku app

If you want a branded streaming service with your own name, catalogue, user experience, and content organization, developing a branded Roku TV app may be the more suitable route.

The process typically includes:

1. Define your app's business model and content offering.

2. Set up a Roku developer account.

3. Choose a development approach and build the app.

4. Integrate your video delivery and backend services.

5. Prepare metadata, artwork, navigation, and playback.

6. Test the app across supported devices and playback scenarios.

7. Submit it for review and address any required changes.

8. Maintain the app as platform requirements evolve.

The technical scope depends on your requirements. A simple on-demand service is different from an OTT application supporting live TV, an electronic program guide (EPG), catch-up TV, subscriptions, user accounts, or multiple monetization models. For the submission and certification steps across devices, see our smart TV app distribution guide.

Roku's documentation explains how its app distribution and content-partner pathways differ: Roku Developer Platform Overview.

Important: publishing a branded app in the Roku Channel Store does not automatically place your content inside The Roku Channel. These are separate distribution opportunities with different processes.

4. What Do You Need Before Applying to These Platforms?

Before you contact any platform, you need three things in place: content and rights documentation, technical delivery assets, and a clear business plan for distribution. Preparing them in advance makes the process faster on every platform.

Content and rights checklist

• A clearly defined channel concept or content catalogue.

• Documented rights to distribute all submitted titles.

• Territory and language availability.

• Appropriate music, talent, and third-party clearances.

• Content ratings and accurate program information.

• Captions and subtitles where required.

• A professional company profile and distribution proposal.

Technical delivery checklist

• High-quality master video files.

• Audio tracks that meet the applicable specifications.

• Consistent metadata for movies, series, and episodes.

• Posters, thumbnails, and promotional artwork.

• Reliable hosting or an agreed content-delivery workflow.

• Tested streaming feeds or delivery packages where required.

• A process for replacing files and updating metadata.

Exact specifications differ by platform and partnership type. Get the current technical delivery documentation from your platform contact before encoding or delivering the entire catalogue.

Business readiness checklist

• A clear distribution objective.

• An understanding of the intended territories.

• A proposed monetization strategy.

• An authorized contact for rights and commercial negotiations.

• A realistic delivery and launch schedule.

• A plan for reporting, maintenance, and future content updates.

5. How Do Channels Make Money on Pluto TV, Tubi, and Roku?

Content owners on these platforms usually earn through advertising revenue shares, fixed or revenue-based licensing fees, or payments routed through an aggregator. The exact model depends on the agreement, the distribution format, and your role in the deal.

These platforms operate within the broader ad-supported streaming ecosystem, often described as AVOD (advertising-based video on demand) and FAST (free ad-supported streaming television). For a deeper comparison, see how OTT platforms make money.

Advertising revenue

In an ad-supported model, advertising is shown around or during eligible programming, often through server-side ad insertion (SSAI). Revenue may be shared under a negotiated arrangement, or the content may be licensed under a different commercial structure.

Do not assume that every platform pays a fixed amount per view or offers the same revenue split.

Content licensing fees

A platform or distributor may license specific movies, series, or other programming for an agreed period, territory, and set of rights. Depending on the deal, compensation may be a fixed license fee, a revenue-based arrangement, or another negotiated model.

Distribution and aggregation

Content owners can also work with an aggregator or distribution partner that manages submissions, metadata, delivery, and commercial relationships.

An aggregator may charge fees or keep a portion of revenue, depending on its contract. Review the services, rights granted, reporting, and payment terms before signing.

Branded OTT apps

A business that launches its own Roku app or operates an OTT service can choose its own revenue strategy, including advertising, subscriptions, rentals, or other permitted models.

This approach offers greater control over the service, but it also adds development, maintenance, customer acquisition, and operating costs.

The best model depends on whether your priority is licensing existing content, operating a linear channel, or building a direct-to-consumer streaming business.

6. Should You Apply Directly or Use an OTT Aggregator?

Apply directly if you have a large catalogue, distribution expertise, and the resources to handle delivery. Use an aggregator if you have only a few titles or need help with packaging, metadata, and delivery. Either way, the platform still decides what it accepts.

An aggregator cannot guarantee acceptance by Pluto TV, Tubi, or Roku. It can help you prepare and deliver content, but the platform keeps control over acquisition and approval.

If you have only a handful of films, explore whether a preferred aggregator is more practical than a direct relationship. If you operate a larger catalogue or want to launch a branded service, compare the long-term cost of outsourcing with building your own distribution capabilities.

7. How OTT Technology Can Support Your Distribution Strategy

Getting accepted by a streaming platform is only one part of a distribution strategy. You also need to manage content, delivery, metadata, playback quality, and ongoing operations, which is where an OTT platform helps.

An OTT technology platform such as Vodlix can help businesses build and operate their own branded streaming service, depending on the chosen configuration and product requirements.

Relevant capabilities may include:

• Content management: organize movies, series, episodes, and metadata in a central CMS.

• Live streaming: support live programming workflows and channel operations.

• Video delivery: prepare reliable delivery workflows using supported streaming formats and infrastructure.

• EPG and catch-up TV: support television-style programming with an EPG and time-shifted viewing with catch-up TV in compatible configurations.

• Multi-device apps: build branded experiences for TV and mobile devices, including Roku.

• Monetization: configure supported advertising, subscription, or transactional models according to business needs.

It is important to separate technology from distribution access. Using an OTT platform does not automatically secure placement on Pluto TV or Tubi, or approval for The Roku Channel. Each platform's partnership and content review process still applies.

For a business that wants to own its brand and customer experience while pursuing third-party distribution, a practical approach is to develop its own OTT service and treat external platform partnerships as an additional growth channel. Broadcasters can see how this works in our OTT platform for broadcasters.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting a Streaming Channel

The most common reasons a distribution proposal stalls are an unclear concept, incomplete rights, and ignored technical requirements. Avoid these mistakes to prevent delays during onboarding.

• Pitching an unclear channel concept. A proposal should explain what the channel offers, who it serves, and why the programming belongs on the platform.

• Submitting content without complete rights. Missing territorial, music, or distribution permissions can prevent a title from being licensed.

• Ignoring technical requirements. Incorrect formats, incomplete metadata, missing captions, or poor-quality artwork can lead to extra review and delivery work.

• Confusing app distribution with content licensing. A branded app in a device app store is not the same as having content selected for a platform's own streaming service.

• Assuming acceptance is guaranteed. Meeting technical requirements does not mean a platform must acquire the content or approve a channel.

• Overlooking commercial terms. Review exclusivity, territories, licensing duration, revenue arrangements, reporting, and termination provisions before committing your catalogue.

• Relying on a single distribution outlet. Where rights permit, a broader strategy may include your own OTT service, licensing partners, and multiple third-party platforms. Avoid agreements that restrict distribution elsewhere.

Conclusion

Getting your channel on Pluto TV, Tubi, or Roku requires more than a strong content library. You need a clear distribution strategy, documented rights, professional metadata, technically compliant content, and a proposal that matches each platform's business model.

Pluto TV is worth exploring for themed linear channels and on-demand programming. Tubi may suit licensable films and series. Roku offers both a route to The Roku Channel through content partnerships and a separate path for launching your own branded app.

The right approach depends on what you want to distribute, how much content you control, which territories you can serve, and whether you want to license content or build a streaming business of your own.

For OTT businesses, the most sustainable strategy is often to prepare for third-party distribution while building the technology and operational foundation needed to manage content, audiences, and monetization over the long term.