Rooster Teeth, one of the gaming and content creation world’s most longstanding brands with its roots in one of the most iconic web series’ of all time, Red vs Blue, along with shows like RWBY and gen:LOCK, has announced its closure at the hands of Warner Bros. Discovery, after more than two decades in operation.
The company will wrap operations over the coming months, with “fundamental shifts in consumer behaviour and monetisation across platforms, advertising, and patronage” coupled with a decade of unprofitability leading to its ultimate demise. So far, the Roost Podcast Network will be the only remaining asset while Warner Bros. looks to sell it off, and potentially sell off the Rooster Teeth IP and content library.
Rooster Teeth is biting the dust after more than two decades.
Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, after unsuccessful attempts to sell the unprofitable fandom, gaming and comedy entertainment division, is shutting down Rooster Teeth’s operations. https://t.co/WhPZDkeMEi pic.twitter.com/vjeMZOvGDL
— Variety (@Variety) March 6, 2024
The news was shared in a post on the RT website including an internal memo from the company’s GM, Jordan Levin, writing, “Over the years at Rooster Teeth, we aim to be direct in sharing news as it happens. It is with an extremely heavy heart that this morning during our company All Hands meeting, a very important announcement was made. We are grateful for our audience, our fans, and our community’s support during this challenging time.”
Levin’s memo follows:
“Dear Rooster Teeth,
“Since our founders created and uploaded their first video on the then-called World Wide Web in 2003, Rooster Teeth has been a source of creativity, laughter, and lasting innovation in the wildly volatile media industry.
“We’ve read the headlines about industry-wide layoffs and closures, and you’ve heard me give my perspective and updates on the rapidly changing state of media and entertainment during each of our monthly All Hands meetings.
“Since inheriting ownership and control of Rooster Teeth from AT&T following its acquisition of TimeWarner, Warner Bros. Discovery continued its investment in our company, content and community. Now however, it’s with a heavy heart I announce that Rooster Teeth is shutting down due to challenges facing digital media resulting from fundamental shifts in consumer behaviour and monetisation across platforms, advertising, and patronage.
“Please note, the Roost team is not currently impacted by this action as the Roost Podcast Network will continue operating and fulfilling its obligations while WBD evaluates outside interest in acquiring this growing asset.
“We have many questions to answer in the coming days and weeks, and the opportunity to work together to implement the best way to wind things down for us and our community. We’re working through what comes next in real time, and we will be as open, direct, and accessible as possible. Thank you all in advance for your patience and support of one another.”
You can read the full post and memo right here.
