2024 will be a hard year for streaming. Investors are cutting back on the money they pour into unprofitable streaming services. And a weak ad market is bringing in lower ad revenues and will likely force some unprofitable companies to be sold or shut down in the second half of 2024.
Just this week Caffeine, the sports streaming service, shut down without warning as other services are struggling to find ways to become profitable.
Here is our list of streaming services most likely to shut down or be sold in yet this year.
Fubo
Of all the remaining services that offer a full cable-like experience, Fubo is the one with the smallest backing from a major player. YouTube TV is backed by Google, and Hulu is backed by Disney. Fubo is still not profitable and, for now, may have investors helping cover the costs, but for how long? And when will Fubo become profitable?
The new streaming service, Venu Sports, from Fox, Warner Bors. Discovery, and Disney will attract similar customers to Fubo.
But Fubo recently lost all Warner Bros. Discovery channels and has no signs of re-adding them.
Fubo has a lot of interesting technology and many customers that will likely make it a target for potential buyers. The question is who?
The future of Fubo likely now rests in its lawsuit to block the new streaming service Venu Sports from Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney.
Redbox & Crackle
Both Redbox and Crackle are owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. Reports have come out that the parent company has not paid its employees or its bills. This has left many to expect a deal to sell or shutdown some of its streaming services is coming soon. The question is how long can it keep going without new cash to cover its expenses.
Sling TV
Sling TV may have the backing of DISH, but Sling TV needs money. It is unknown how portable Sling TV is on its own. With DISH building out its 5G network, you must ask how long will it continue to focus on TV?
For now, DISH is using its TV service revenues to keep the company running as it builds out its 5G network. This makes Sling TV shutting down in the short term unlikely.
Free Ad-Supported Streaming Services
Look for some free smaller ad-supported streaming services to shut down in 2024. The soft ad market bringing in lower ad revenues will strain already unprofitable streaming services.
There are hundreds of small ad-supported services—many unknown by most cord cutters. These are the services most likely to go under first.
There you go, our list of the streaming services most likely to go under or be sold in the second half of 2024.
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