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|
.svg) Logo since 2019 | |
| Formerly | Grouper (2004–2007) Sony Crackle (2018–2019) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2004; 21 years ago (2004) (as Grouper) May 4, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-05-04) (as Crackle) |
| Founders | Josh Felser Dave Samuel Mike Sitrin Aviv Eyal |
| Fate | Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation by parent company |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Services | Digital streaming |
| Members | 40 million monthly active users (as of December 31, 2021[update]) |
| Parent | Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment |
Crackle is an American basedvideo streaming service. It was founded in 2004 asGrouper, before the service was purchased bySony Pictures in 2006 and renamedCrackle. In 2018, the name was changed toSony Crackle.[1] Sony sold a majority stake toChicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in March 2019, and the name was changed back to Crackle.[2][3] In July 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment was placed inChapter 7 liquidation, which would signal a liquidation of the company's assets, and the cessation of its subsidiaries, including Crackle; while all other subsidiaries were shuttered, the Chapter 7trustee had kept the Crackle website operating (as of December 2024[update]), available only in the United States. As of April 8, 2025, the website is not working.[4]
Grouper Networks,[5] an encrypted P2P network that integrates file sharing, instant messaging and multimedia streaming,[6] was founded in 2004 by Josh Felser, Dave Samuel, Mike Sitrin, and Aviv Aiyal. Later,[7] Sony purchased it in August 2006 for $65 million.[8][9] In July 2007,Sony rebranded Grouper as Crackle, a multi-platform video-entertainment network and studio, and in late 2008 appointedEric Berger as general manager.[9][10][11][12][8]
In March 2011, Crackle launched its streaming services on Bravia TVs, thePlaystation 3,Roku boxes, and Sony Blu-ray players. It also partnered with Xbox Live and added its content to Xbox 360.[13][14][15][16]
In January 2012, Crackle added Animax to its content for users in the US and Canada,[16][17] and later by the end of March 2013, Animax branding was removed.[18]
In June 2013, it released an app for theBlackberry 10 platform and added its content to theApple TV set-top box.[19][20][21][22]
On April 1, 2014, Sony Pictures Television ceased its Crackle operations in the UK and Australia.[23][24] In Australia, Crackle became the free-to-air home of Sony's popular Americansoap operaDays of Our Lives, following the end of its run with the television broadcasterNine Network.[25] The same month, Crackle announced the creation ofSports Jeopardy!, a sports-themed version of the game showJeopardy! hosted byDan Patrick.[26]
On April 14, 2015, Crackle announced a new feature called "Always On"; an ad-supported,internet television channel similar toVevo TV. Crackle also announced its first animated series,SuperMansion; their first hour-long scripted drama,The Art of More; andJoe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser, a sequel to 2001'sJoe Dirt.[27] On October 8, 2015, Crackle premieredSuperMansion, a stop-motion animated comedy television series created byMatthew Senreich andZeb Wells. The series stars the voices ofBryan Cranston,Heidi Gardner, Tucker Gilmore,Keegan-Michael Key,Tom Root,Yvette Nicole Brown, Wells, andJillian Bell.[28]
In 2017, Crackle announced the platform had greenlit an original drama,The Oath, written and created by former Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy Joe Halpin. Executive produced byCurtis "50 Cent" Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television Inc., the drama series starsSean Bean,Ryan Kwanten,Cory Hardrict,Arlen Escarpeta,Katrina Law, and J.J. Soria, and premiered on March 8, 2018.[29]
In spring 2018, the company's name was changed to Sony Crackle.[30] In March 2019, Sony sold its majority stake in Sony Crackle toChicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, and the name was changed to Crackle again.[2] Subsequently, on December 15, 2020, Sony sold its remaining stake in Crackle, giving full control to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment.[31][32]
In April 2023,Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced Crackle Connex, its advertising sales division, allowing advertisers to measure and track performance of advertisements on the platform.[33]
On April 23, 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a $636.6 million loss in 2023, and warned that without any options to generate additional financing, the company may be forced to liquidate or pause operations, and seek a potentialChapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing.[34] On June 29, 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after missing a week of paying its employees and failing to secure financing.[35][36] On July 10, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved a conversion of the bankruptcy to Chapter 7, which would signal a liquidation of the company's assets, and the cessation of its subsidiaries, including Crackle.[37] However, as of March 2025, Crackle's website is still operating.
Crackle is owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. Other Crackle Plus VOD platforms includePopcornflix (AVOD), Truli, and Pivotshare (SVOD platform).[38] Crackle features programming in the following genres: action, comedy, crime, drama, horror, and sci-fi.
Crackle features films and TV shows, some exclusive, mainly fromSony Pictures and its subsidiaries, includingColumbia Pictures,TriStar Pictures,Screen Gems,Sony Pictures Classics, andSony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.[citation needed]
Crackle also features the "Crackle Original" series, includingOn the Ropes,Going from Broke,Hidden Heroes,The Oath, andSnatch. Crackle's content changes each month as titles are added and taken down.[citation needed]
While it was Sony Crackle, it was available in 21 countries and in three languages:English,Portuguese, andSpanish.[39][20] Currently[as of?], Crackle is only available in the US. Crackle was launched in Canada in September 2010.[40][41] In late 2015, several of the service's original series were made available only through the local servicesCrave TV andShomi.[42][43] Following the closure of Shomi in the fall of 2016, new productions continued to be released exclusively on Crave TV, as well asAmazon Prime Video andSuper Channel (Canadian TV channel).[44][45][46]
Crackle's Canadian operations were shut down on June 28, 2018, and its content was moved toBell Media'sCTV Movies and CTV Throwback services.[10] Despite Crackle being a Sony owned service, the successor CTV app has not launched on Sony'sPlayStation or Smart TV platforms, although it has become available on Microsoft'sXbox One console and Samsung's Smart TVs.[citation needed]
As of late 2016, Crackle inLatin America was available only as an ad-free paid service.[38][47] Subscribers were required to have a pay-TV service provider that had partnered with Sony Crackle in order to access the service.[48] Crackle was discontinued in Latin America on April 30, 2019.[49]
