Benzinga | Mar 22, 2021 09:19AM EDT

Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Increased Distribution Of Its Crackle Plus AVOD Networks To 41 Touchpoints, Above Its Prior Target; Is Expanding New Initiative With Plans To Reach Total Of 64 Consumer Touchpoints

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSSE), one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand ("AVOD") networks, today reported that it has increased its distribution of its Crackle Plus AVOD networks to 41 touchpoints, above its prior target, and now is expanding this initiative with plans to reach a total of 64 consumer touchpoints.

The Crackle Plus networks, including Crackle and Popcornflix, are available on a variety of platforms and services as both linear and VOD offerings. Crackle Plus networks are always free and offer a wide selection of hit movies, TV series, and original and exclusive programming. Expansion of Crackle Plus's distribution is a key part of the Company's broader marketing strategy to drive more viewers to its original and exclusive content.

"Our company has found that distribution has proven to drive increased viewership of our networks, and can bring up to hundreds of thousands of new viewers over time. From leading digital platforms to major cable providers and smart TV manufacturers, we are adding partners that we expect to drive new viewers to our Crackle and Popcornflix networks. As a result, we have reset our goal to now target 64 total touchpoints by the end of this year," said William J. Rouhana, chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. "We are seeing encouraging early results from our overall efforts to increase viewership, including a significant increase in viewership of our Crackle network in February over January of this year."

"Our aim is to make our free movie and TV content available to all viewers on all available platforms, including streaming devices, game consoles, connected TVs and FAST networks. As we add new distribution touchpoints and develop both new AVOD and linear channel offerings, we continue to make it easier for consumers to find us," said Philippe Guelton, president of Crackle Plus. "In doing so, we are capturing a growing audience of unique, hard-to-reach consumers for our advertising partners."