Dropout
American subscription streaming service specializing in comedy content, original series, and improv comedy shows.
Company Type
private
Founded
2018
Headquarters
New York City, New York, USA
About Dropout
Who owns Dropout?
Dropout is owned by Sam Reich, who acquired CollegeHumor Media from IAC in 2020 through a management buyout. Reich serves as CEO. The company is privately held.
Dropout is owned by Sam Reich, who acquired CollegeHumor Media from IAC in 2020 through a management buyout. Reich serves as CEO. The company is privately held.
What happened to CollegeHumor?
IAC shut down CollegeHumor's operations in early 2020, laying off most of the staff. Sam Reich, CollegeHumor's Chief Creative Officer, negotiated a management buyout and acquired the company from IAC. Under Reich's ownership, CollegeHumor Media has rebuilt its team and refocused on Dropout as its primary business.
IAC shut down CollegeHumor's operations in early 2020, laying off most of the staff. Sam Reich, CollegeHumor's Chief Creative Officer, negotiated a management buyout and acquired the company from IAC. Under Reich's ownership, CollegeHumor Media has rebuilt its team and refocused on Dropout as its primary business.
What is Dropout?
Dropout is a subscription streaming service specializing in original comedy content, including Game Changer, Dimension 20, Um, Actually, and other original series. It costs approximately $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
Dropout is a subscription streaming service specializing in original comedy content, including Game Changer, Dimension 20, Um, Actually, and other original series. It costs approximately $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
Is Dropout publicly traded?
No, Dropout is privately owned by Sam Reich and is not publicly traded.
No, Dropout is privately owned by Sam Reich and is not publicly traded.
What is Dimension 20?
Dimension 20 is a Dungeons and Dragons actual play show produced by Dropout, hosted by Brennan Lee Mulligan. It is one of Dropout's most popular original series and has developed a large and dedicated fan base.
Dimension 20 is a Dungeons and Dragons actual play show produced by Dropout, hosted by Brennan Lee Mulligan. It is one of Dropout's most popular original series and has developed a large and dedicated fan base.
History of Dropout
CollegeHumor was founded in 1999 by Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen as a website for college humor content. The site grew into one of the most popular comedy websites of the early internet era, known for original videos, articles, and viral content.
IAC/InterActiveCorp acquired CollegeHumor in 2006. Under IAC ownership, CollegeHumor expanded its video production and became a significant digital media company.
CollegeHumor launched Dropout in 2018 as a subscription streaming service, creating a paid platform for original content not available for free. Dropout featured original series including Game Changer (a comedy game show hosted by Sam Reich), Dimension 20 (a Dungeons and Dragons actual play show), and Um, Actually (a trivia show about nerdy topics).
In early 2020, IAC announced it was shutting down CollegeHumor's operations, laying off most of the staff. Sam Reich, who had been CollegeHumor's Chief Creative Officer, negotiated a management buyout of the company, acquiring the CollegeHumor and Dropout brands from IAC.
Under Reich's ownership, CollegeHumor Media rebuilt its team and refocused on Dropout as its primary business. The company shifted its strategy to prioritize the subscription streaming service over free ad-supported content.
Dropout grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic as audiences sought streaming entertainment at home. The service's original programming, particularly Dimension 20 and Game Changer, developed loyal followings.
By 2024, Dropout had grown to become one of the most successful independent subscription streaming services, with a dedicated subscriber base and a reputation for high-quality original comedy content. The company has continued to expand its content library with new series and formats.
Brands Owned by Dropout
Dropout owns 0 brands in our database.
Dropout Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Highly engaged subscriber community with strong brand loyalty
- +Distinctive original programming (Dimension 20, Game Changer) with dedicated fan bases
- +Lean operating model allows quality content production at relatively low cost
- +Sam Reich's ownership provides creative stability and founder-led vision
- +Subscription-first model provides predictable recurring revenue
Considerations
- -Limited resources compared to major streaming platforms
- -Niche audience limits total addressable market
- -Competition for subscriber attention from Netflix, HBO Max, and other platforms
- -Dependence on continued quality of original programming
- -Small team limits content production volume
Frequently Asked Questions About Dropout
Who owns Dropout?
Dropout is owned by Sam Reich, who acquired CollegeHumor Media from IAC in 2020 through a management buyout. Reich serves as CEO. The company is privately held.
What happened to CollegeHumor?
IAC shut down CollegeHumor's operations in early 2020, laying off most of the staff. Sam Reich, CollegeHumor's Chief Creative Officer, negotiated a management buyout and acquired the company from IAC. Under Reich's ownership, CollegeHumor Media has rebuilt its team and refocused on Dropout as its primary business.
What is Dropout?
Dropout is a subscription streaming service specializing in original comedy content, including Game Changer, Dimension 20, Um, Actually, and other original series. It costs approximately $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
Is Dropout publicly traded?
No, Dropout is privately owned by Sam Reich and is not publicly traded.
What is Dimension 20?
Dimension 20 is a Dungeons and Dragons actual play show produced by Dropout, hosted by Brennan Lee Mulligan. It is one of Dropout's most popular original series and has developed a large and dedicated fan base.
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