# Growth of Free Ad‑Supported Streaming Services > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/growth-of-free-adsupported-streaming-services > Updated: 2026-08-01T20:30:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 6. Free, ad‑supported streaming services keep expanding rapidly through 2026. Tubi remains the market leader with over 280,000 titles and more than 100 million monthly users while keeping ad exposure to about three to four minutes per hour. Pluto TV continues its cable‑like model with 250+ live channels and a deep on‑demand library, now adding dozens of live‑sports and highlight feeds. The Roku Channel supplies premium studio movies, original productions and a dedicated sports hub featuring MLB, NBA G League, Formula E and X Games. Sling Freestream has introduced six new free channels, and other FAST platforms such as Tubi and Pluto TV have broadened sports line‑ups, including a 4K Super Bowl stream. YouTube curates sci‑fi playlists that mix public‑domain classics with licensed indie titles, while a growing number of free movie apps appear on Amazon Fire Stick; guides warn that many are unverified and recommend VPN use for privacy. Cord‑cutting accelerates, with browser‑based services like TheTVApp adding to the free‑TV ecosystem. A classic horror film has resurfaced on several ad‑supported services and library portals, prompting renewed discussion of its cultural impact. Providers continue to stress the importance of choosing verified platforms to avoid security risks and to steer viewers away from unverified sites. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-01: Free Streaming Services Expand Options for TV and Horror Movies Cord‑cutting fuels growth of free browser‑based TV platforms like TheTVApp and ad‑supported services such as Tubi and Pluto TV, which now offer extensive horror movie libraries at no cost. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/free-streaming-services-expand-options-for-tv-and-horror-movies ### 2026-07-18: Free Legal Streaming of Classic Horror Film Gains Popularity A classic horror film is now streaming legally for free on ad‑supported and library platforms, with regional catalog differences and ongoing rights updates. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/free-legal-streaming-of-classic-horror-film-gains-popularity ### 2026-07-06: Free Legal Movie Streaming Services Expand in 2026 Legal ad‑supported streaming services like Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Plex, Kanopy and others are expanding in 2026, offering large free catalogs with low ad loads and licensed content. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/free-legal-movie-streaming-services-expand-in-2026 ### 2026-07-02: Sling Freestream Adds Channels as Free Sports Streams Expand on Smart TVs Sling Freestream adds six free channels while major FAST platforms like Pluto TV, Tubi and Roku broaden free sports streams on smart TVs, all without subscription fees. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sling-freestream-adds-channels-as-free-sports-streams-expand-on-smart-tvs ### 2026-06-20: Free Legal Streaming Platforms and YouTube Sci‑Fi Channels Expand Options in 2026 Free ad‑supported services like Tubi and YouTube sci‑fi channels broaden legal movie options in 2026, offering licensed and public‑domain titles without subscriptions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/free-legal-streaming-platforms-and-youtube-scifi-channels-expand-options-in-2026 ### 2026-06-18: Free Movie Streaming Apps Expand Options on FireStick and Other Devices Free movie streaming apps, including BeeTV alternatives for FireStick and legal FAST services like Tubi and Pluto TV, are gaining popularity, with privacy advice to use VPNs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/free-movie-streaming-apps-expand-options-on-firestick-and-other-devices --- Cite as: Growth of Free Ad‑Supported Streaming Services. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/growth-of-free-adsupported-streaming-services