Streaming services typically rely on strategies like attracting more subscribers, increasing subscription fees, and incorporating advertisements to boost revenue. However, science-focused streaming service Curiosity Stream is adopting a novel approach that could influence the survival strategies of niche streaming platforms.
Founded in 2015 by Discovery Channel's John Hendricks, Curiosity Stream is offered at an annual fee of $40, free from commercial interruptions. Over time, the service expanded to include the Curiosity Channel TV channel and Curiosity University programming. Its diverse revenue streams have finally led CuriosityStream Inc. to achieve positive net income in its fiscal Q1 2025 after almost ten years in operation.
Despite its specialized focus on science, history, research, and education, Curiosity Stream remains a minor player compared to giants like Netflix. As of March 2023, the service boasted 23 million subscribers, significantly fewer than Netflixâs 301.6 million as of January 2025.
Nevertheless, amid a highly competitive market, Curiosity Stream reported a remarkable 41 percent year-over-year increase in revenue in its Q3 2025 earnings this month. This growth is primarily attributed to licensing its original programming to train large language models (LLMs).
âLooking at our year-to-date numbers, licensing generated $23.4 million through September, which ⌠is already over half of what our subscription business generated for all of 2024,â stated Phillip Hayden, Curiosity Streamâs CFO, during a recent investor call.
To date, Curiosity Stream has completed 18 AI-related fulfillments âacross video, audio, and code assetsâ with nine partners, according to an October announcement.
CEO Clint Stinchcomb revealed that the company anticipates its revenue from IP licensing deals with AI firms to surpass subscription revenues by 2027, potentially even sooner, during the earnings call.