Crackle Plus

Mid-tier AVOD platform and CTV ad inventory provider that competed against Tubi, Pluto TV, and Peacock before shutting down in 2025

Crackle Plus was a free, ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) streaming service and content distribution network that offered consumers access to movies, TV shows, and original programming without a subscription fee. Originally launched as Grouper in 2004 and later rebranded to Crackle under Sony Pictures Entertainment's ownership, the platform was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in 2019, which merged it with other streaming assets to form the Crackle Plus joint venture. At its peak, Crackle Plus operated multiple AVOD channels and provided advertisers with connected TV (CTV) and digital video inventory, positioning itself as a scaled, brand-safe alternative to subscription streaming giants. In the AdTech ecosystem, Crackle Plus served as both a content destination and an advertising platform, offering programmatic and direct-sold video ad inventory across its owned-and-operated channels. The company monetized its free content library through pre-roll, mid-roll, and display advertising, and it maintained partnerships with major demand-side platforms and ad networks to maximize fill rates. Its portfolio of AVOD channels — including Crackle, Popcornflix, and others acquired under Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment — gave it a broad reach across smart TVs, mobile devices, and web browsers. Crackle Plus's story ended with the financial collapse of its parent company. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2024, which was subsequently converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation in July 2024. The Crackle streaming service was permanently shut down, with the website going dark by June 2025. The platform's demise reflected broader challenges facing mid-tier AVOD services competing against well-capitalized rivals such as Tubi, Pluto TV, and Peacock, as well as the difficulties of sustaining a content and technology business without a stable financial foundation.