Rooster Teeth, a renowned animation, comedy, and gaming studio owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, is set to close its doors after 21 years.
“Since inheriting ownership and control of Rooster Teeth from AT&T following its acquisition of TimeWarner, Warner Bros. Discovery continued its investment in our company, content, and community.
“It’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 behavior and monetization across platforms, advertising, and patronage,” wrote Jordan Levin, the general manager of Rooster Teeth.
The Roost Podcast Network, boasting over 80 episodes, will continue operations. Additional intellectual properties such as Red vs Blue, RWBY, and Gen:LOCK, “remain in discussion,” the company stated.
The Popularity Of Rooster Teeth
The company, headquartered in Austin, Texas, was founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman.
It began with the launch of Red vs. Blue, a web series based on Halo, a video game. Over time, it expanded its repertoire to include live-action shorts, comedy series, video-game development, and podcasts covering topics such as food, fandom, and lifestyle.
Rooster Teeth’s YouTube channel boasts over 9 million subscribers and has amassed billions of views.
Reports suggest that the company’s closure could result in the layoff of approximately 150 staff members, with other contractors and creators also losing their jobs.
Warner Bros. Discovery is now seeking to sell its associated assets, which include The RT Podcast, Anthony Padilla’s I Spent a Day With…, The Kinda Funny Podcast, and the podcast for the DC Max series Peacemaker.
“Warner Bros. Discovery thanks Rooster Teeth’s groundbreaking creators and partners, and the strong management team, for their many years of success. Your passionate and loyal fans are testament to your achievements,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement.
