Crackle to Cease Operations in LatAm

Sony Pictures Entertainment is pulling the plug on its Crackle SVOD service in Latin America effective April 30.

Keith Le Goy, president of worldwide distribution, said in a memo to staffers that the LatAm Crackle business “is not sustainable in the present highly competitive local environment.”

The U.S. Crackle continues as an AVOD service, with Sony exploring “potential strategic partnerships” for the platform, Le Goy said. Last summer, the studio announced it was shuttering Crackle in Canada.

“While we are closing the Crackle Latin America service, OTT/direct-to-consumer remains an incredibly important area for our evolving industry and we will persist in exploring other opportunities in the space,” Le Goy added. “We also remain focused on our existing core business and channels in the region, Canal Sony and AXN. They are strong brands achieving solid growth and are among the top cable channels in Latin America. We will continue to think big, innovate and invest in these assets and other new prospects that we believe have great potential for our business and our viewers.”