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When Qibi launched earlier this year, it felt kind of cool. Specially designed episodes for mobile viewing that you are currently holding your phone were automatically adjusted? Sure, let’s give it a shot! But unfortunately, Qibi never really took off. Now, with only one episode left, it will end for the video streaming platform itself, according to the Wall Street Journal, which has decided to shut down.
Earlier today, Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg informed investors that they were closing the service. It’s a frustrating end to a service that promises to revolutionize the way content is used. Analysts believe that the epidemic situation prevented many potential Qibi-Ears from going home, making mobile-optimized video less attractive. When people want to see something at home, they usually prefer to use a screen as big as possible.
When it launches, Qibi doesn’t work on smart TVs or support Chromecasting content. Heck, it still doesn’t have a web client. The company finally unveiled apps for Android TV, Apple Pull TV and Fire TV yesterday, but there was a slight delay in getting any work done. When Ketzenberg reported that there was an attempt to sell Quibe to someone else, many potential suitors put in place that most of the Quibe shows are not on their own.
The service boasted some unique content from the big names in entertainment, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to save Quiby from drowning in a sea of streaming services that offer more content on more devices. It is not clear when Qibi will fly offline and what will happen to its contents, but the official announcement of the closure will soon appear with those details.
Officer
Jeffrey Katzenberg and Mag Whitman, the founders and CEOs of Quibi, have made the news official. In a candid post on Medium, they explained that despite their best efforts to ensure the service succeeds, they failed. Starting in the middle of an epidemic may play a negative role, but they do not discount the possibility that Qibi’s idea as a whole “may not be strong enough to justify a single streaming service.” Regardless of the cause, the end result is the same, and they will shut down the business next month and look for buyers who will be interested in Qibi’s content and technical assets.
