WarnerMedia is discontinuing operations on its cinephile streaming service FilmStruck in November, per Variety. The official FilmStruck Twitter account also confirmed the news in a Twitter post Friday.
FilmStruck will discontinue service on 11/29/18. If you are a current subscriber, please visit https://t.co/ht0FF065M9 for refund information. It has been our pleasure bringing FilmStruck to you and we thank you for your support. pic.twitter.com/J9lGX23V3Y
— FilmStruck (@FilmStruck) October 26, 2018
The move comes as AT&T works to streamline its holdings in WarnerMedia, Turner and Warner Bros. Digital Networks. The short-lived service started in April 2016 as a partnership between WarnerMedia’s Turner Classic Movies and The Criterion Collection, taking over for Hulu as Criterion’s exclusive streaming home in the U.S.
“We’re incredibly proud of the creativity and innovations produced by the talented and dedicated teams who worked on FilmStruck over the past two years. While FilmStruck has a very loyal fanbase, it remains largely a niche service. We plan to take key learnings from FilmStruck to help shape future business decisions in the direct-to-consumer space and redirect this investment back into our collective portfolios,” said Turner and WB Digital Networks in a statement.
Earlier this month, WarnerMedia abruptly shut down DramaFever, a subscription VOD service specializing in Korean dramas, and one week ago, the media conglomerate also shut down Internet comedy studio SuperDeluxe.
FilmStruck shutting down after just two years in service is sad news for subscribers who will soon no longer have access to its curated selection of niche films, and who were quick to criticize the corporate machinations behind its demise.
Hey @WarnerMediaGrp I hope you see how many people who eagerly want to give you money are upset about the FilmStruck news. Also I’ve got some serious han about DramaFever myself.
— Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@somebadideas) October 26, 2018
FilmStruck was a fantastic idea, and there’s no reason why, in a company as gigantic as their parent corporation, that they couldn’t have found a way to sustain it, if only as an emblem of pride in their cultural heritage.
— Vote November 6 (@mattzollerseitz) October 26, 2018
“We plan to take key learnings from FilmStruck to help shape future business decisions in the direct-to-consumer space & redirect this investment back into our collective portfolios” belongs in the Corporate Gobbledygook Hall of Fame. The lack of meaning is almost impressive.
— Farran Nosferatu (@selfstyledsiren) October 26, 2018
It’s unclear what will happen to The Criterion Collection, some titles from which will soon no longer be able to stream. Public library card holders and those affiliated with university libraries, however, can still use Kanopy to stream many Criterion titles, as well as many other indie, foreign and cult films.
Anyone despondent about Filmstruck should check to see if their public library or affiliated university subscribes to @Kanopy. Lots of good stuff on there, including a lot of Criterion films, and it’s free.
— Bill Kartalopoulos (@bkny) October 26, 2018