Decoder with Nilay Patel Dropout CEO Sam Reich on the business of subscription comedy
41 snips
Jan 12, 2026 
Sam Reich, CEO of Dropout and a former creative leader at CollegeHumor, dives into the world of subscription comedy. He shares the transition of Dropout from conventional ads to a direct-to-audience subscription model, enhancing creative freedom. Sam reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on staffing and the importance of engaging content, especially with hits like 'Game Changer.' He also discusses the significance of profit-sharing with contributors and his vision of creating a unique space for 'weird' internet comedy.
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Subscription Simplifies Creative Control
- Subscription simplifies media businesses by removing yearly ad-sales reset and platform gatekeepers.
- Going direct to audience trades scale for creative autonomy and steadier revenue.
Zero-Dollar Acquisition Turned Risky Bet
- Sam Reich bought Dropout from IAC for $0 as an entrepreneurial gamble.
- He inherited a much smaller team and then entered COVID lockdown immediately after the deal.
From 100+ Staff To Seven Overnight
- After acquiring the company, Dropout shrank from ~105 employees to seven overnight.
- The timing coincided with the start of the pandemic, compounding the challenge.
