Dropout (streaming platform)

Dropout (stylized as Dropout.tv, DROPOUT, or :DROPOUT) is an American subscription media service provider developed and operated by CH Media. It was founded in September 2018 and provides advertisement-free access to uncensored original shows.

Dropout TV
Type of site
Headquarters
United States
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerSam Reich, IAC (formerly)
IndustryInternet
ParentCollegeHumor
URLwww.dropout.tv
RegistrationRequired
LaunchedSeptember 26, 2018 (2018-09-26)
Current statusActive

History

In early September 2018, CollegeHumor began teasing the beginning of a new subscription service, putting hidden keyword clues on their website and in their videos. Entering these keywords to a website owned by CollegeHumor allowed users to see clips of videos, audio, and images that implied the beginning of a new CollegeHumor project.

On September 26, 2018, Dropout officially launched in the United States.[1][2] CH Media's CEO, Rich Cusick, announced the service as a "TV-MA version of CollegeHumor", allowing fans to dive deeper into pre-established characters and shows from the primary CollegeHumor YouTube channel.[3] CollegeHumor's Chief Creative Officer, Sam Reich, also claims that the founding of Dropout was in response to difficulty in receiving advertising dollars on traditional media platforms for mature content.[4]

Dropout officially launched native iOS and Android apps for its service in December 2018, allowing users to watch shows and also cast to smart TVs. Comics, especially the chat stories, were integrated into the app.[5]

As of December 2018, visitors to the service spent on average 31 minutes per visit, and visited on average 3.5 times per week.[5]

Throughout 2019, Dropout began to experiment with more live streaming versions of their shows, through using Twitch and podcast-like formats.

After IAC had let go of CollegeHumor in 2020, Dropout ended production on scripted shows and focused on unscripted shows such as Um Actually, Dimension 20 and Game Changer through online conference.

Subscription model

Dropout launched with a beta price of $3.99 per month, for the first three months of the service. After December 2018, the price rose to a three tiered option, with monthly memberships for $5.99/month, semi-annual memberships for $4.99/month, and annual memberships for $3.99/month.[6] As of January 4th 2022, new subscribers paid $5.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly, while those who already subscribed prior to that date were charged $4.99 monthly or $47.99 yearly.[7] Users are also able to access Dropout content through YouTube via the join function.The company has justified the pricing model as allowing them to create content without being dependent on, or beholden to, requests from advertisers.[8]

In August 2019, CollegeHumor also began to partner with Facebook to offer Dropout content via paid video subscriptions on Facebook's platform.[9]

Services

In addition to viewing exclusive original series, subscription to Dropout allows users to view all other videos produced by CollegeHumor 72 hours before they are released to the public. Previously, a subscriber-only Discord server was included as a service, but the server has since been opened to non-subscribers as well. Dropout also has a store which sells merchandise (such as shirts, stickers, and mugs) related to shows on the platform.[10][11]

Original shows

Dropout planned to release a new original title per month in 2019, according to Sam Reich.[12][13]

Title Genre Premiere Seasons Length Status
Um, Actually Game show Jan 17, 2015 (Pilot)[14] 7 seasons, 114 episodes 30 mins In Progress
Dimension 20 Comedy September 12, 2018[15] 16 seasons, 180 episodes 120 mins In Progress
WTF 101 Adult animation January 7, 2019[16] 1 season, 10 episodes 10 mins Completed
The Rank Room Talk show March 7, 2019[17] 1 season, 7 episodes 20 mins Completed
Cartoon Hell Animated series September 26, 2018[18] 2 seasons, 27 episodes 20 mins Completed
Total Forgiveness Reality television February 6, 2019[19] 1 season, 10 episodes 20 mins Completed
Lonely and Horny Comedy 2 seasons, 20 episodes 10 mins Completed
Troopers Comedy 2 seasons, 20 episodes 10 mins Completed
See Plum Run Comedy September 26, 2018[20] 1 season, 12 episodes 15 mins Completed
Paranoia Comedy April 20, 2019 2 seasons, 15 episodes 20 mins Completed
Gods of Food Mockumentary August 8, 2019[21] 1 season, 6 episodes 30 mins Completed
Game Changer Game show September 20, 2019[22] 5 seasons, 45 episodes 30 mins In Progress
Kingpin Katie Crime Comedy June 10, 2019[23] 1 season, 8 episodes 15 mins Completed
Erotic Book Club Comedy December 29, 2018[24] 1 season, 19 episodes[24][25] 60 mins
Erotic Clubhouse 1 season, 6 episodes[26] 60 mins
Where in the Eff is Sarah Cincinnati Game show December 18, 2019[27] 1 season, 6 episodes[28] 20 mins
Breaking News: No Laugh Newsroom Comedy July 7, 2018 5 seasons, 68 episodes 10 mins In Progress
Dirty Laundry Game show Apr 11, 2022[29] 2 seasons, 18 episodes 40 mins In Progress
Make Some Noise Game Show June 13, 2022[30][31] 1 season, 11 episodes 30 mins In Progress
Play It By Ear Game Show September 14, 2022[32][33] 1 season, 5 episodes 30 mins In Progress

References
  1. "How the Internet Is Ruining Comedy". YouTube. CollegeHumor. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  2. Raftery, Brian (September 26, 2018). "The Latest Company to Try a Subscription Streamer? CollegeHumor". Wired. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  3. Godnick, Max (September 26, 2018). "CollegeHumor Bets on the Profane With New Subscription Service". Cheddar. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  4. Minor, Jordan (November 14, 2018). "CollegeHumor Dropout Is Premium Streaming Internet Comedy". Geek.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  5. Weiss, Geoff (December 10, 2018). "CollegeHumor Launches Native iOS, Android Apps For 'Dropout' Subscription Service". TubeFilter. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  6. Ha, Anthony (September 26, 2018). "CollegeHumor unveils Dropout, a subscription service for comedy videos, comics and more". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  7. "Dropout on Twitter". Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  8. Sands, Mason P. (November 19, 2018). "What's Up with Dropout.tv? A Review of CollegeHumor's New Venture | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  9. England, Rachel. "Facebook tests paid video subscriptions, starting with CollegeHumor". Engadget. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. "DROPOUT Store". DROPOUT Store, Connected Ventures, LLC. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  11. "CollegeHumor Partners With Rooster Teeth's Podcast Network 'The Roost'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  12. Spangler, Todd (September 26, 2018). "CollegeHumor Launches Subscription Service for Edgy, Advertiser-Unfriendly Comedy". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  13. Donahue, Matt. "CollegeHumor's DROPOUT Unveils Slate of Upcoming Originals". But Why Tho Podcast. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  14. "Um, Actually". Dropout. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  15. "Dimension 20". Dropout. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  16. WTF 101 (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  17. The Rank Room (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  18. Cartoon Hell (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  19. Total Forgiveness (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  20. See Plum Run (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  21. Bennett, Anita. "Mockumentary Cooking Series 'Gods of Food' To Debut On CollegeHumor's Dropout In August". Deadline. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  22. Game Changer (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  23. Kingpin Katie (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb, retrieved September 9, 2020
  24. Erotic Book Club (Comedy), December 29, 2018, retrieved September 9, 2020
  25. "Erotic Book Club". DROPOUT. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  26. "Erotic Clubhouse". DROPOUT. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  27. "CollegeHumor's Dropout to Premiere WHERE IN THE EFF IS SARAH CINCINNATI?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  28. "Where in the Eff is Sarah Cincinnati". DROPOUT. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  29. "Dirty Laundry on Twitter". Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  30. "Game Changer on Twitter". Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  31. "Make Some Noise". Dropout. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  32. "Play It By Ear Trailer". Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  33. "Play It By Ear". Dropout. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
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