CollegeHumor Launches DROPOUT, the Ad-Free, Mixed-Media Subscription Service for Uncensored Comedy

USA - English

• USA - English

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- CollegeHumor, the online comedy giant, today announced the public beta launch of DROPOUT, its ad-free, mixed-media subscription service. Available on web and mobile web with native apps soon to follow, DROPOUT promises audiences outrageously funny and uncensored content, free from the limitations imposed by ad-supported and algorithm-dependent platforms. DROPOUT launches with mobile-first formats and a members-only community to connect more deeply with show creators, talent and like-minded fans.

DROPOUT's longer-form, premium programming features brand new scripted and unscripted shows starring fan-favorite CollegeHumor alumni and reboots of hugely popular CollegeHumor series. Of note, Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld (Jake and Amir) are returning to star in Lonely and Horny Season 2, Josh Ruben and Elaine Carroll will star in See Plum Run (previously of Precious Plum), and Troopers makes its long-awaited return starring CollegeHumor cast members Raphael Chestang and Ally Beardsley. New CollegeHumor cast member Brennan Lee Mulligan leads a campaign around a fantastical high school as Dungeon Master in the unscripted series, Dimension 20: Fantasy High, and CollegeHumor's game show of fandom and one-upmanship that began on YouTube, Um, Actually, brings celebrity guests into the mix with host Mike Trapp.

"Our goal is to defy traditional media with unique content, whether because it's R-rated (See Plum Run), niche (Um, Actually), or unusual in terms of format (Dimension 20: Fantasy High, comics, and chats)," said Sam Reich, CH Media's Chief Creative Officer. "We hope to offer users something surprising, immersive, and laugh-out-loud funny; a place they can, to plagiarize Timothy Leary: log on, tune in, and drop out."

Going beyond video, DROPOUT delivers an array of mobile-first digital comics and chat story content. The visual storytelling of comics such as Dreadlord, Cartoon Hell Presents, and Ladies Book Club explode off high-resolution, full-bleed mobile displays with their bold lines and bright color palettes. Chat stories bridge and expand upon the narratives between new episodes of DROPOUT's original programming, in addition to serving as a source for entirely new characters and worlds to unfold. Native apps for DROPOUT will launch later this year on iOS and Android to further enhance the mobile experience.

"DROPOUT is a first-of-its kind offering, an SMOD service (subscription media on demand), so to speak, that breaks new ground by bringing together video, comics and chat stories into one comprehensive experience," said Shane Rahmani, CH Media's Chief Business Officer.

DROPOUT also provides a community for its legion of new and veteran CollegeHumor fans to engage with each other, and interact directly with CollegeHumor's creators and talent, powered by a members-only Discord channel (a voice and text chat service used by the gaming and nerd communities) available shortly after launch. From unfettered geekdom to politically conscious comedy, DROPOUT provides something for everyone.

DROPOUT joins CollegeHumor, Dorkly, and Drawfee under the newly formed media entity CH Media, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IAC, which will be led by recently-appointed CEO Rich Cusick, along with Chief Creative Officer Sam Reich, Chief Business Officer Shane Rahmani, and Chief Financial Officer Natalie Mayslich.

"CollegeHumor has historically led the vanguard of innovation in video, and now we are pushing comedy to its limits with the launch of DROPOUT," said Rich Cusick, CH Media CEO. "The success of DROPOUT, combined with CollegeHumor's thriving production studio and advertising business, will allow us to double down our investment into premium original content, resulting in a bigger, better, badder CollegeHumor across all platforms."

During public beta, DROPOUT will be available for $3.99 / month for the first three months. DROPOUT will then offer a tiered pricing model, starting at $3.99 / month with an annual subscription; $4.99 / month with a six-month subscription; and $5.99 for a month-by-month subscription.

DROPOUT'S first-year content slate includes:

SHOWS

• Cartoon Hell: Created by and starring Drawfee illustrators Nathan Yaffee and Caldwell Tanner, Cartoon Hell finds the duo in hell doomed for eternity unless they draw a cartoon good enough to get out. Each week, they draw a new cartoon suggested by fans and bring it to life through animation.
• Dimension 20: Fantasy High: If John Hughes ran a tabletop RPG, the result would be Dimension 20: Fantasy High. Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan leads a campaign centered around the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, a fantastical high school for teenage elves, orcs, gnomes and goblins. CollegeHumor cast members past and present play a range of characters on this epic adventure.
• Kingpin Katie: Katie Marovitch has a reputation among CollegeHumor fans for her frenzied cocaine use. But after getting caught up with a powerful drug cartel, she soon finds herself in over her head.
• Lonely and Horny: Ruby Jade (Amir Blumenfeld) is a neurotic, selfish, understandably single 30-something who wants to have sex more than anything else in the world. Along with the help of his empathetic dating coach Josh Rice (Jake Hurwitz) Ruby embarks on a quest to find love, with literally anybody.
• Paranoia: Can you hide your high? Ally Beardsley hosts a crew of 420-friendly comedians and friends in a "Mafia"-style game that pits secret stoners against an innocent public.
• Rank Room: Host, philosopher and CollegeHumor cast member Katie Marovitch leads a rotating team of comedians in determining the definitive answers to life's most important questions, such as "What is the sexiest way to die?"
• See Plum Run: A reboot of Precious Plum, CollegeHumor's wildly successful and insanely NSFW web series. See Plum Run finds Mama (Josh Rubin) and Plum (Elaine Carroll) retired from the pageant scene and embarking on a campaign for student body president at the posh New England private school Buckingham Academy. Their wild campaign is a direct parody of the 2016 presidential race.
• Total Forgiveness: Crippled with debt, Grant and Ally go head-to-head in this agonizing competition show to prove they'll do ANYTHING to pay off their student loans.
• Troopers: A space saga of epic incompetence. The Interstellar Legion is thrown into chaos when two of Dreadlord Sinister's unremarkable underlings, Vin and Mara, break ranks and traverse the galaxy to retrieve an item of untold power.
• Um, Actually: Host Mike Trapp introduces a game show of fandom minutiae one-upmanship, where nerds do what nerds do best: flaunt encyclopedic nerd knowledge at Millennium Falcon nerd-speed.
• WTF101: Afternoon detention with Professor Foxtrot leads to magical, educational, and extremely gross journeys.

COMICS

• Cartoon Hell Presents: Part of DROPOUT's Cartoon Hell universe, Caldwell and Nathan's hell-born cartoon ideas aren't up to demon Managar's television standards. But hey, what about a comic series? (A new issue per each episode of Cartoon Hell, written by David Seger, art by Millionfish, Britt Wilson, Stephanie Mided, and more)
• Dreadlord: Part of the Troopers universe, the baddest boss in the galaxy ditches his bumbling lackeys for a cosmic spy chase (written by Ben Joseph, art by Paul Westover)
• Gay Spy: The top (and bottom) secret adventures of America's stealthiest queer operative, loosely based on the memoirs of CollegeHumor's Grant O'Brien. Will he blow it? (written by CollegeHumor cast member Grant O'Brien, art by Levi Hasting)
• Ladies Book Club: An expansion of Drawfee's Dungeons & Dragons series, Drawga, Roxy, Gina, and Legzi (a.k.a. the Ladies Book Club) are in for a wild ride when they take one last magical road trip before college. (Written by Jacob Andrews, Julia LePetit, and Tony Wilson, art by Patricia Daguisan, Gabrielle Gomez, Sammy Borras, Mady G and more)
• Legend of Jared: Angry, purple Jared dreams of becoming a full-time gamer. When a mishap turns him into an embarrassing meme, he sets out to prove the video game world wrong. (Related to Dorkly's Today in Nerd History character Jared the Puppet. Written by Tony Wilson and Jake Young, Art by Andy Kluthe)
• The Continuing Adventures of Kim Jong Un: Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un continues to fight Western scum in this most excellent mandatory comic entertainment. You will enjoy it or face the consequences. (Relates directly to CollegeHumor's original series, The Adventures of Kim Jong Un, Written by David Seger, Art by Kyle Smeallie)

CHAT STORIES

• Dating a Black Hole: A classic fairytale: guy meets a black hole on dating app; they fall in love; entropy ensues. Will they happily entangle ever after? Only time and space will tell. (original chat story by Alexander Nemser)
• Lonely and Horny: Ruby Jade texts for love in all the wrong places in this continuation of the Lonely and Horny narrative (written by Jake and Amir)
• Nude Pic: An unintentional nudie, an open homicide investigation, and a Twittersphere dying for more -- thirst trapping has never been so dangerous or unflattering. (original chat story by Connie Shin)
• Pat Kills Trapp: Pat Cassels is back from the grave, seeking revenge on Mike Trapp in the newest installment of Hardly Working's long-running murder mystery gag. (written by Mike Trapp)
• Pizza Terrorists: Raphael finds himself an unlikely couch potato action hero when terrorists hack his pizza delivery. Can he solve their radical riddles in 30 minutes or less? (original chat story by Daniel O'Brien)
• Precious Plum and Mama: Plum and Mama take their communication to new levels of digital dysfunction. (Written by Sam Reich and Elaine Carroll)
• Roommate Wanted: When his roommate goes missing, Riley offers Lou the sublet. Aside from "that smell," the Linkin Park, and an open investigation, it's a pretty sweet deal. (Original chat story by Johnna Scrabis)
• Troopers: An expansion of the Troopers universe, intergalactic losers Rich and Larry still fail to impress boss Dreadlord, but at least they have each other to talk to. (written by David Seger)

For more on DROPOUT, and to sign up for a trial, visit https://www.dropout.tv. For more on CollegeHumor, visit http://www.CollegeHumor.com.

ABOUT CH MEDIA
CH Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IAC comprised of the award-winning digital properties CollegeHumor, Dorkly, Drawfee, and the recently launched subscription service DROPOUT. CH Media's ad-supported properties are highly sought-after by brands who want to reach a younger, entertainment-loving audience with original branded content that is hilarious, relevant, and impactful. CollegeHumor's sketch comedy, Dorkly's comics, and Drawfee's beloved illustrators are adored by legions of fans with an insatiable appetite for original comedy, and DROPOUT expands the worlds of fan-favorite characters and creators with members-only premium mixed-media content and interactive community features. For more information on CH Media, visit chmedia.com.

SOURCE CollegeHumor

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