Why Curiosity Stream Failed

In this video we look at the niche streaming service Curiosity Stream. It focuses on non-fiction documentaries. It went public by merging with a SPAC in 2020. Since then the company has failed to achieve profitability and its stock price has fallen by almost 90%. So what went wrong?



#Wallstreetmillennial

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[Big_Tex]

Huh, now that you mention it I haven’t heard any ads from them in a long time 😂

[Haya]

And it got so many Advertisements because of nebula

[PowerScissor]

I've been on an old YouTube video kick, and it's wild all the sponsored video ads that are hard coded into the videos and still playing...even though the companies are long gone or have been proven to be a scam.

Sponsored videos are like lifetime advertising.

[Justcetriyaart]

There's a reason Why documentary type works tend to be publicly funded, ad funded or prefunded. people in general are not always curious every month to see a random documentary of some random science-based topics. people rather be entertained on a regular and even that is not going to get a steady monthly stream, but it's more likely. Hence why theres not much of this content on tv. Streaming to just be a business model that most of us are tired of.

[JTient]

Still the best UI/UX of any platform to date. I liked it too maybe just me but I ended up not using it too much. I don't streem too much anyway but i have them.

[samsonsoturian]

I already pay for YouTube Premium, I am not paying extra for what is mostly the same channels

[MikeGaruccio]

I do feel like there’s an argument that documentary content is evergreen, and that the subscribers they currently have are probably pretty loyal, especially at the low yearly cost, but that there probably aren’t many more subscribers they can profitably acquire. If that’s the case then it probably makes sense to pull back on the investment and instead focus on managing expenses and getting the most out of what they have.

[kappazo]

Many of those “documentaries” like Deadliest Catch are effectively dramas at some level. Human conflict and drama is the big draw for TV - in any form.

[fretingsmiles]

That's me. Got the Nebula bundle, only opened Curiosity once. 😅

[Merle]

Am watching this on Magellan TV and Wondrium and Nebula.

[Ridcally]

I did get a bundle with nebula and then was charged for a second year full price cause I forgot
It just doesn't have as great historical documentaries as youtube has especially on more ancient times.

[aidanmco]

I was one of those people you mentioned who bought the nebula bundle and never once looked at curiositystream

[_..-.._..-.._]

Everything advertised on YouTube is bullsh.

[TheCrazierz]

I tried it but I just didn't like the interface. It was a hassle to use

[kurisutofusan]

I wanted to subscribe to Curiosity Stream for so long since they are ok with international customers but my wife does not speak English and she would need subtitles, which they don't provide (other than in English, sometimes).
Too bad, we both love documentaries.
If they made sure to have subtitles in different languages, I would immediately subscribe.

[mccallosone]

advertising on a platform that offers free versions of the thing your selling, good thinking guys. youtube has practically unlimited docs on every subject, some of which are high quality

[murraymadness]

What I think can be successful is a youtube that is tailored to specific content areas. Like we use to have forums as the main thing on the internet until youtube.

[crypto_que]

There’s a channel on YT uploading your videos pretending to be you. They’re impersonating your channel without changing your voice. It’s called Trade Channel UK or something

[YoSpiff]

Well, I guess I contributed. I subscribed for a couple of years but rarely used it. For $20 a year, I would have kept with it, but when they auto renewed me at $40, I cancelled and requested a refund.

[CryptoCT]

I was very hyped about Curiosity but the delivery was subpar. It took me too long to find anything watchable there. Many of the "documentaries" where just lectures or podcasts - just ppl filmed while talking. And almost history exclusively - aside maybe from cosmos exploration science was underrepresented IMHO. If they would deliver what was promised it could have been a major success.