The streaming world is saying goodbye to three of its free ad-supported pioneers: Crackle, Chicken Soup For The Soul, and Popcornflix. These services have ceased streaming content, marking the end of an era for these early innovators in the cord-cutting landscape.
The shutdown comes in the wake of the demise of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of Crackle, Popcornflix, and Redbox. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, initially aiming to reorganize and relaunch. However, those plans were abandoned in favor of a Chapter 7 liquidation, leading to mass layoffs and the termination of all operations.
Now, Roku has removed these services from Roku devices after they stopped working a few weeks ago.
Crackle, launched in 2004 and acquired by Sony in 2006, was one of the first major streaming services to offer completely free, ad-supported content. It paved the way for the rise of free ad-supported streaming television services like Tubi and Pluto TV, which have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Popcornflix, launched in 2010, was another early entrant in the free market, offering a library of movies and TV shows for free. Both Crackle and Popcornflix were acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in 2019 and 2017, respectively.
The closure of these services marks a significant loss for viewers who rely on free streaming options. While other free services remain available, Crackle and Popcornflix held a special place in the cord-cutting community as pioneers of the free streaming model.
The shutdown of Crackle and Popcornflix serves as a reminder of the constantly changing dynamics of the streaming industry. While free ad-supported services have gained popularity, they still face challenges in a competitive market dominated by subscription giants.
As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the demise of these early pioneers will impact the future of free services and the availability of free content for viewers.