Author Topic: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ  (Read 2390 times)

Offline Devorah

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Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« on: October 27, 2017, 03:15:20 PM »
Lionsgate Exits Comic-Con HQ Niche Subscription Service, Transitions to Licensing Model

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Selling video subscriptions directly to consumers is hard - just ask Lionsgate.

The studio is in the process of winding down the consumer business of Comic-Con HQ, the niche video service it launched in cooperation with Comic-Con some 18 months ago.  The studio will give up on selling subscriptions directly to consumers, and instead license existing Comic-Con HQ content to other platforms, Variety has learned from a source familiar with the transition.

Apps for the channel have already been removed from Google and Apple’s app stores, but consumers have apparently not been notified yet. Some of Comic-Con HQ’s content is expected to show up on ad-supported platforms like Tubi TV and Roku’s recently launched Roku Channel, and Amazon will continue to sell Comic-Con HQ’s catalog through its Channels video subscription platform.

Lionsgate launched Comic-Con HQ in May of 2016 with the goal of giving Comic-Con’s rabid fan base their very own TV-like channel online. The channel hosted video from Comic-Con events as well as original scripted and unscripted content, including “Kings of Con,” a comedy series starring “Supernatural’s” Richard Speight Jr. and Rob Benedict.

However, in recent months, Comic-Con HQ gradually scaled down its content plans. The channel stopped producing original content, and also didn’t add any of this year’s Comic-Con panels to its catalog. Instead, Comic-Con HQ increasingly relied on movies from Lionsgate’s catalog - something that didn’t really go over well with its audience, judging from recent reviews of the channel on Amazon Channels.

Comic-Con HQ is just the latest in a number of exits or pivots among niche subscription video services. In recent months, NBC shut down its paid comedy service Seeso, Vessel sold and shuttered its short-form video service, and Verizon gave up on plans to launch a standalone paid AwesomenessTV service.

That being said, there are still more than 100 such niche services vying for consumers’ eyeballs and dollars. Lionsgate is still participating as well with its indie film-focused Tribeca Shortlist subscription service.

Offline Angel_

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2017, 03:20:05 PM »
That lasted, like, a year?  Year and a half?  I can't recall if it morphed from something else into this but either way it was super short lived.  I never tuned in despite being a die hard comic con person.  Sucks for them.
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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #2 on: Today at 10:31:33 AM »

Offline mark

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2017, 04:15:48 PM »
Bummer. I had actually watched a good bit of stuff on there and was hoping to watch some the 2017 panels that I didn't get to see. 

Offline AzT

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2017, 05:58:23 PM »
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That lasted, like, a year?  Year and a half?  I can't recall if it morphed from something else into this but either way it was super short lived.  I never tuned in despite being a die hard comic con person.  Sucks for them.

First news of it in April 2015, launched on FCBD 2016: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Link remains on CCI site:

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Offline Angel_

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2017, 08:53:24 PM »
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First news of it in April 2015, launched on FCBD 2016: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Link remains on CCI site:

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Ah, a bit longer than I was thinking.  I don't remember it at all from 2015 or 2016.
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Online SteveD

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2017, 11:16:32 PM »
Since they billed my annual subscription in August, I wonder if any of that will be refunded, probably not.
Without the panels and original content, it was nothing like when it launched.

Offline FBS

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2017, 12:45:43 PM »
Unsurprising news. Poor service from the start.

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Online Transmute Jun

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2017, 12:49:24 PM »
This explains why Con Man moved to broadcasting on SyFy...

Online SteveD

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2017, 07:27:36 AM »
Received email this morning...



Dear Comic-Con HQ member

Thank you for being a great supporter of Comic-Con HQ, and we hope you’re enjoying the service.  We wanted to tell you about changes coming on November 1.  We are moving to Roku to give you a FREE experience, which will include advertising.  For a deeper movie and TV show viewing experience that is free of advertising, you can continue to subscribe to Comic-Con HQ on Amazon Channels via any Amazon-supported devices.  A curated selection of Comic-Con HQ movies and shows will also be featured on TubiTV.com.  Comic-Con HQ will no longer be offered as a standalone app on iOS and Android or on Comic-ConHQ.com.
 
We’ve gone ahead and cancelled your monthly subscription. If you have any questions or need any help, please email us.
 
Thanks,
 
The Comic-Con HQ Team



I noticed that the original website is gone now so no way to log into account.
Still no mention of what happens to annual subscriptions.

I was so rooting for this service, but it really turned out to be a disaster.

Offline marcia29

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2017, 07:48:02 AM »
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This explains why Con Man moved to broadcasting on SyFy...

Ahh...yes.  I wondered why that popped up.
It is 2024, and I am still asking...where's my flyin' car??!! @fannishmarcia

Offline rabbitwarren

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2017, 12:10:43 PM »
I want to know where Hamill’s pop culture quest is going to end up. That and Con Man were the only reasons really to subscribe.

Offline Angology

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2017, 08:28:28 PM »
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Received email this morning...



Dear Comic-Con HQ member

Thank you for being a great supporter of Comic-Con HQ, and we hope you’re enjoying the service.  We wanted to tell you about changes coming on November 1.  We are moving to Roku to give you a FREE experience, which will include advertising.  For a deeper movie and TV show viewing experience that is free of advertising, you can continue to subscribe to Comic-Con HQ on Amazon Channels via any Amazon-supported devices.  A curated selection of Comic-Con HQ movies and shows will also be featured on TubiTV.com.  Comic-Con HQ will no longer be offered as a standalone app on iOS and Android or on Comic-ConHQ.com.
 
We’ve gone ahead and cancelled your monthly subscription. If you have any questions or need any help, please email us.
 
Thanks,
 
The Comic-Con HQ Team



I noticed that the original website is gone now so no way to log into account.
Still no mention of what happens to annual subscriptions.

I was so rooting for this service, but it really turned out to be a disaster.
Got that email too, and another saying they would miss me. So, that means they did actually cancel my subscription.
Ang

Offline marcia29

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2017, 03:28:31 AM »
Interesting that they didn't include refund info.
It is 2024, and I am still asking...where's my flyin' car??!! @fannishmarcia

Online SteveD

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2017, 07:40:28 AM »
Received response to my email inquiry this morning:


Amy F replied:

Hi Steven,

Thanks for reaching out to us!

Your subscription has been canceled and the remaining portion of your annual membership is being refunded.

Best,
Amy


So I guess that's that.


Offline AzT

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Re: Lionsgate Leaving Comic-Con HQ
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2017, 10:11:19 AM »
Merge? :)

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