DramaFever, the Korean-centric streaming service acquired by WarnerMedia in 2016, has been shut down, TheWrap has confirmed.
“Today, Warner Bros. Digital Networks will be closing its DramaFever OTT service due to business reasons and in light of the rapidly changing marketplace for K-drama content, a staple of the service’s programming,” the company said in a statement. “Warner Bros. Digital Labs, which encompasses more than two-thirds of the DramaFever workforce, will continue operating, serving as the tech engine behind many of WBDN’s operations.”
WarnerMedia will be laying off about 20 percent of DramaFever’s 110-person staff.
The streamer, which offered an ad-supported product and a $5-per-month subscription service, first launched in 2009 as one of the only services to offer a variety of Korean content. In recent years, both Amazon and Netflix have pushed into the genre, adding competition for the streaming service.
The company, which had 13,000-plus episodes of programming from 12 countries available, attempted to expand its reach by partnering with companies like Twitch and Mammoth Media to diversify its audience. These partnerships, however, will be impacted by the closing of the company, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The closing of DramaFever comes just a week after WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey announced plans to launch a streaming service that will offer programming from AT&T’s portfolio of brands, which include DC Universe, HBO, Filmstruck, and Crunchyroll.