Quibi Released

If you're not familiar, Quibi is a new streaming service founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg and led by Meg Whitman. The name is a shortened version of "Quick Bites" as the service is filled with original content that is 10-minutes or less. The whole impetus behind the thing is to provide people with entertainment for the In Between Times - waiting for a train, sitting on a bus, in line, etc.

It's been in production for a couple years now with small previews at various trade shows and media events. Today, April 6th, it is officially available. There's a 90-day free trial and beyond that it's $4.99 a month with ads.

The Verge has a great article on the strange timing of the launch - during a pandemic when everyone has nothing but free time, as opposed to needing to fill small gaps. Will this impact the service negatively or will it create an onslaught of usage they wouldn't have had otherwise? Maybe both?

There's plenty to say about the actual content on the platform - Chrissy Tiegan doing a silly courtroom show, Will Forte and Kaitlin Olson in a absurd sitcom, Will Arnett doing.. some Will Arnett thing. I've heard it described as "fake 30 Rock shows come to life." That feels accurate.

This isn't an endorsement or paid ad for the service; I've no idea if it's any good or not yet. In a world of Twitter, TikTok and Instagram videos, leveraging small but produced content makes a lot of sense. I am intrigued.