Production company Rooster Teeth is being shut down by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, after a number of attempts to sell off the business whole. Per reporting from Variety, Rooster Teeth remained unprofitable under Warner Bros. Discovery, and it’s for this reason that all operations will cease. 150 full-time employees are set to lose their jobs, and dozens of contractors will also be out of work.
Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly looking to sell off Rooster Teeth’s major assets, including popular shows like RWBY, Red vs. Blue, Gen:Lock, and the Roost Podcast Network. Notably, The Roost Podcast Network will continue to operate for now, due to contractual obligations.
“[I]t’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,” Jordan Levin, Rooster Teeth General Manager reportedly told staff on Wednesday, in a memo seen by Variety.
“Our legacy is not just a collection of content but a history of pixels burned into our screens, minds, and hearts. Rooster Teeth has made an indelible mark on the media industry, and we should be so proud of the countless ways we pioneered a business connecting creators and content with a dedicated community.”
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Rooster Teeth first gained an audience with video game reviews and comedy banter, before its founders – Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Gustavo Sorola, Jason Saldaña and Joel Heyman – branched out with video skits, podcasts, animated shows, films, video games, and more. Supported by fan subscriptions, advertising, merchandise, and live events, Rooster Teeth grew considerably over a 20 year period.
The production company was acquired by Fullscreen in 2014, and through a process of mergers and acquisitions, eventually came to be under the Warner Bros. Discovery banner. Despite the company boasting a range of popular shows and a passionate fandom, it appears significant downturn in the digital media industry, and a slow decline of its audience, has led Warner Bros. Discovery to swing the axe.
After a two decade run filled with wild success, and a fair dose of controversy, it appears Rooster Teeth – as it once was – is no longer. Our thoughts are with those impacted by the announced layoffs.
