CRACKLE PLUS PITCHES A “VIEWER-FIRST” STRATEGY AT THE 2020 NEWFRONTS

Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, along with the operator of streaming AVOD services for Crackle and Popcornflix, announced a viewer-first strategy focused on refining content and advertising for its growing audience. “We are excited to introduce Crackle Plus, a majority-owned subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment formed with Sony Pictures Television, to the NewFronts after a year of rapid growth and momentum across our brands,” said Philippe Guelton, President of Crackle Plus.

47% of U.S. consumers plan to add an AVOD service in the next 12 months, with Crackle and Popcornflix being a common choice for audiences looking for free premium streaming content. A recent study suggested that 33 million additional customers have indicated an interest in using Crackle.  The service is available in the U.S. and is accessible on 25 devices and services, which include Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, on iOS and Android mobile devices, and desktop at Crackle.com.

Based on the success of recently released Crackle originals and viewers’ feedback regarding the service, Crackle Plus revealed nearly 200 hours worth of new original, exclusive programming during its NewFronts presentation. Its content library includes original sports docuseries, scripted series, feature films, and unscripted programming. As part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Crackle Plus uniquely sources its original content from sister companies Screen Media, a leading content distribution company, and Landmark Studio Group, a production company of premium scripted and unscripted content. “Through our original and exclusive programming, a viewer-friendly ad experience, and the use of proprietary data and insights, Crackle Plus provides an unmatched opportunity for marketers to engage with a hard-to-reach audience in a premium content environment," Guelton said. 

In response to stay-at-home restrictions and the cancellation of school, live sports, and events, Crackle plans to reinforce its focus on creating content related to sports, DIY, and homeschooling. The service has announced two new subjects: music and pets. Crackle and Popcornflix users can now access over 10,000 movies and TV episodes, which is double the amount available just a year ago. To reach new viewers, Crackle Plus will accelerate the expansion of its consumer touchpoints. After its recent launch on PLEX, Crackle Plus also announced that its networks will soon be available on to Xfinity Flex and FuboTV. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott chain.