Shudder is hitting a scary good milestone as we head into the month of October. The streaming service, which is focused on horror, thrillers, and the supernatural, has surpassed 1 million total subscribers.
AMC Networks debuted Shudder back in 2015 and you might be thinking that a million subscribers in five years aren't all that much but Shudder's streaming model has been much different from their larger media rivals launching mass-audience services like HBO Max, Peacock, and Disney+. Shudder is a very niche service but if you love horror, it has been a growing destination for the genre and it has only gotten better since AMC launched it. AMC executives have projected the company will end 2020 with close to 4 million total subscribers across Shudder and streaming siblings Acorn, UMC, and Sundance Now.
Shudder saw a surge in subscribers when Creepshow premiered on the streamer last September. Original programming is the key to any streaming service that wishes to grow and Shudder has found its footing with the aforementioned Creepshow and the original series, Cursed Films, which premiered last year and is currently working on its second season along with Creepshow. Original films like THE ROOM, Z, THE BEACH HOUSE, and HOST have also garnered more interest in Shudder while their hosted movie show, The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, has generated significant social media buzz. Miguel Penella, AMC Networks SVOD President, had this to say about Shudder's recent growth:
"The addition of original series and movies turbocharged our growth and turned Shudder into a must-have service for anyone interested in great horror, thriller or supernatural entertainment. Our relentless focus on quality programming, innovative content and finding the best up-and-coming creators has enabled Shudder to break out in the crowded world of subscription services."
Shudder has also made the move to expand internationally. The streaming service launched in Australia and New Zealand in August which is an expansion of its presence in the U.S., Canada, Germany, the UK, and Ireland.
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