Seven axes esports and gaming channel ScreenPlay 10 months after launch
Seven has axed its channel for esports and video gaming, ScreenPlay, just 10 months after the platform was launched.
The new platform was created in June last year providing news, reviews, live streams, game plays and interviews around gaming and esports.
The ScreenPlay team thanked their audience for the support
ScreenPlay also launched its league competition. It was run by hosts Stephanie Bendixsen and Nich Richardson, who both previously worked on the ABC’s Good Game, before it was axed early last year.
ScreenPlay ran on 7mate, and was part of Seven’s ‘content everywhere strategy’.
https://twitter.com/NichBoy/status/990843445349564416
In a post on Twitter yesterday, the ScreenPlay team thanked everyone for their support, but said it was time to say goodbye.
“We maintain that we have one of the best communities of any show, ever – sharing some of the funniest, happiest, craziest moments we’ve had in video games,” the post said.
“Together as a team we’ve loved coming to work every day to make content, share thoughts and hear from you guys about your opinions, speculations and stories as well. It sucks, but unfortunately, there are commercial realities in TV.”
screenMATES!
We wanted to say to you all how incredible you’ve been supporting our show since the very beginning. But the time has come to say goodbye. #screenPLAYau pic.twitter.com/Qco7K4FhSI
— screenPLAY (@screenPLAYau) April 30, 2018
ScreenPlay’s axing comes six months after Seven revealed its two year cost cutting plan, with the aim of making $105m worth of savings in two years. Two months ago, Seven boss Tim Worner flagged an additional $20m worth of cuts.
Since the first announcement, Seven discontinued documentary series, Murder Uncovered and axed a large portion of jobs in its Broadcast Centre.
Seven West Media also sold its 50% stake in Yahoo7, to Verizon’s Oath.
Mumbrella has approached Seven for comment.
Lack of vision and foresight 7. Obviously the powers that be had no clue what they had or where this would go. Do they even know their customers! This was the only show I’d watch on 7. What a complete disaster – channel 7 management really are dumb as a bag of hammers!
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This is yet another sign that the powers that be are led by those with no sense of the now. They just don’t get it, video games ARE THE FUTURE, if television companies spent less on garbage reality shows that no one cares about and more on things that coming generations really care about like gaming then maybe they would prolong their inevitably short existence in the foreseeable future.
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Hey don’t firget neighbors or home and away or whatever.. you might learn how to make a pipe bomb, terrorise an ex or get into an accident in the most accident prone places you can find
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Video gamers don’t watch Free to air TV… it’s not how they get their content, anyone could tell you that.
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