End scene: A quick look at the rise and fall of video-on-demand service Shomi

Sep 26, 2016 | 3:00 PM

TORONTO — Some quick facts about Shomi, the video-on-demand service that announced Monday it was shutting down on Nov. 30:

Opening Scene: Rogers and Shaw launched Shomi on Nov. 4, 2014, in the hopes of capitalizing on the rising number of so-called cord-cutters who were ditching traditional TV services in favour of video-on-demand. It was trying to compete with the likes of Netflix, with more than 12,000 hours of streamable content and featuring a roster of shows such as “Sons of Anarchy,” “American Horror Story” and “Vikings.”

The Plot Thickens: Shomi came under some criticism because the service, which cost $8.99 a month after a free trial, was initially only offered to Internet or cable customers of Shaw and Rogers. It was later opened up to everyone. A new threat arose a month after Shomi’s launch with the arrival of Bell’s CraveTV.

Closing Credits: Less than two years after its launch, Shomi announced it was pulling the plug because of an online video industry it said “changed markedly” over the last few years. “It’s like a great cult favourite with a fantastic core audience that unfortunately just isn’t big enough to be renewed for another season,” said Melani Griffith, senior vice-president of content at Rogers.