David Farnor | On 07, Apr 2020

This week saw the surprise launch of a new streaming service in the USA and UK: Quibi. The brainchild of DreamWorks veteran Jeffrey Katzenberg, it pits itself somewhere between Netflix and YouTube with a mix of scripted and unscripted originals ready to roll out over the coming weeks and months. Its selling point? A focus on short-form rather than long-form content, designed to cater to audiences on-the-go.

If that sounds weird given the locked-down state of the country when Quibi first launched, we’re here to break down what Quibi’s all about. Here’s everything you need to know:

What is Quibi?

Quibi, which takes its name from “Quick Bites” is a streaming service that focuses entirely on short-form content. Series on the service range from two to four hours and are divided into chunks of 7 to 10 minutes.

Why can I only watch on mobile?

The app is designed specifically for viewing on mobile devices, with a nifty “Turnstyle” feature that allows you to ping between portrait and landscape viewing. While that means you can’t watch on your TV or computer, it does mean that the service is there to cater to anyone on the move or on the go – ideal for streaming on the commute, something that will ironically only come into its own several months after it launches. Future shows will aim to incorporate other features only possible on mobiles, such as switching between portrait and landscape mode to see more information in a mystery series or – in the case of one Steven Spielberg series – waiting until its dark to allow you to watch.

Is it available in the UK?

Yes, as of Monday 6th April, Quibi is available in the UK.

What devices is Quibi available on?

Quibi is available on Android and iOS devices – specifically phones and not tablets.

How much does it cost?

In the US, it costs $4.99 a month with adverts or $7.99 a month without ads. In the UK, where ads sales are presumably not set up yet, it is currently available for £7.99 a month (without ads). A 90-day free trial is available at launch.

How do I sign up?

Head to Quibi.com or search for “Quibi” in your mobile’s app store. When signing up, you may find an error saying “subscription not found”. If you encounter this, check your email inbox for a validation message before proceeding.

What’s on it?

There are four scripted shows available at launch and 20 unscripted, with several episodes available initially and further episodes released each weekday. They include Most Dangerous Game, a dystopian thriller starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz, When the Streetlights Go On, a coming-of-age drama starring Chosen Jacobs, Sophie Thatcher, Queen Latifah, Tony Hale and Mark Duplass, Survive, a drama starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, and Flipped, a comedy starring Wil Forte, Andy Garcia and Eva Longoria. Unscripted series prank series Punk’d, dating show Singled Out, cooking show Dishmantled with Tituss Burgess, and pop culture documentary Memory Hole.

For a full list of content available on Quibi UK at launch, including trailers, click here.

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