Warner Bros Discovery Cancels Beloved Fan Creators After Over 20 Years

As a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, Rooster Teeth general manager, Jordan Levin announced that the company was coming to an end this morning at an all-hands company meeting. 

Levin shared a well-written and beautifully crafted memo explaining the situation: “It’s with a heavy heart that 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.” 

While Rooster Teeth as a production company will come to a close, the Roost Podcast Network will continue its operations. Warner Bros Discovery is currently evaluating outside interests and offers to acquire the popular podcast. 

Any Rooster Teeth-branded content currently in the works (including a movie set for release in the coming months) will continue under the Warner Bros Discovery umbrella. As for well-known content like Red vs. Blue, RWBY, and Gen:LOCK, WBD will soon be openly considering its options for intellectual properties. 

Rooster Teeth was founded more than 20 years ago in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldana, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman. Though the company passed through the hands of numerous owners during its operation, landing in the hands of Warner Bros. Discovery wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened. 

WBD has continued to invest in the company, content, and the community of Rooster Teeth. Warner Bros. Discovery also made sure to continue supporting the Rooster Teeth Digital Creators Program, which works to offer support for underrepresented talent in the industry after the acquisition. 

Ultimately, the shutting down of Rooster Teeth is a blatant sign of the times. Things are rapidly shifting in digital media, and Rooster Teeth isn’t the only operation experiencing the pains of change. 

Levin’s company memo noted that “monetization shifts, platform algorithms, advertising challenges, and the ebb and flow of patronage—all these converging factors have led to many closures in the industry.”

Rooster Teeth’s very first production (and iconic fan favorite), Red vs Blue is also coming to an end. “Though not intentional, It’s only appropriate that our last season of Red vs Blue coincides with us navigating this closure together,” Levin said.

The full text of the company memo released today is available for reading on the Rooster Teeth website. Reading through the fan comments at the bottom of the page presents a clear image of just how much this company has meant to millions of viewers for more than two decades. 

Sayonara, Rooster Teeth. We tip our hats to you.