Looney Tunes finds new streaming success on Tubi after HBO Max removal

Looney Tunes gains massive viewership on Tubi after being pulled from HBO Max

After being pulled from HBO Max earlier this year, Looney Tunes has found new life on the free, ad-supported streaming platform Tubi. The beloved cartoon franchise — featuring icons like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck — has become one of the streamer’s top-performing titles just months after its arrival.

In March 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery removed the Looney Tunes shorts library from HBO Max as part of its broader content strategy. However, in August, Tubi acquired rights to 789 of those classic episodes, while Warner Bros. retained around 200 due to outdated and offensive depictions. Since joining Tubi’s lineup, the series has quickly climbed into the platform’s top 10 most-watched programs by viewing time, according to Vulture.

Samuel Harowitz, Tubi’s head of acquisitions, described the deal as a major success for the streamer. “On its own, Looney Tunes is a huge win for us,” Harowitz told Vulture. The episodes have been reformatted into 30-minute installments, with ad breaks strategically placed between shorts to recreate the feel of traditional television cartoon blocks.

Harowitz added that the platform’s ad-supported model offers viewers a nostalgic experience while engaging younger audiences. “I get to experience it through the eyes of my kids but also evoke the same emotional response I remember as an 8-year-old sitting in front of a CRT Toshiba TV,” he said.

Tubi is currently negotiating with Warner Bros. Discovery to secure Looney Tunes streaming rights for the long term. The acquisition aligns with Tubi’s broader strategy to build a robust catalog of classic animation, which already includes Tom and Jerry, The Pink Panther, Popeye the Sailor, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — evoking the charm of traditional Saturday morning cartoons.