There is a new major player in the streaming world after a surprise merger between Chicken Soup for the Soul and Redbox.
Redbox was acquired for 375 million dollars in a move that brings together multiple streaming properties including Crackle, Popcorn Flix, and Redbox with a still viable physical media business driven by the Redbox kiosks where people can get recent blockbuster movies for a fraction of the cost of almost anywhere else.
Redbox has developed its offering online to include both a free ad-supported service with a channel grid full of curated entertainment and on-demand viewing. Crackle and Popcorn Flix on the other hand, are primarily on-demand services.
While the company is expected to keep each brand separate for the time being there are a lot of possibilities open with the assets. It will put the company in a position to develop a more all-encompassing service along the lines of Pluto TV. I have a feeling this is not the last merger associated with this company.
