# Clipfish

> former German video platform

**Wikidata**: [Q1101757](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1101757)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/clipfish

## Summary
Clipfish was a former German video platform launched in 2006 and owned by RTL interactive. It operated until its closure in July 2017, when it was replaced by Watchbox. The platform provided online video content under the domain clipfish.de.

## Key Facts
- **Launched**: June 14, 2006 (reference: University of Cologne publication).
- **Closed**: July 2017 (reference: Golem.de report).
- **Owned by**: RTL interactive (reference: Presseportal.de).
- **Replaced by**: Watchbox (reference: Golem.de).
- **Website**: http://www.clipfish.de/ (reference: German Wikipedia).
- **Logo**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Clipfish_Logo.png (reference: German Wikipedia).
- **Aliases**: clipfish.de.
- **Instance of**: Website, online video platform (reference: German Wikipedia).
- **Sitelink count**: 1 (Wikipedia page).
- **Wikipedia languages**: German.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1214f_7m.

## FAQs
- **When was Clipfish launched?**  
  Clipfish was launched on June 14, 2006, as documented in a 2008 academic publication from the University of Cologne.

- **Why was Clipfish discontinued?**  
  RTL interactive ended the platform in July 2017 as part of a strategic shift, replacing it with Watchbox to focus on newer streaming services.

- **What services did Clipfish offer?**  
  It functioned as an online video platform hosting content under the domain clipfish.de, catering to German audiences.

- **Who owned Clipfish?**  
  The platform was owned by RTL interactive, a subsidiary of the RTL media group, as confirmed by a Presseportal.de announcement.

## Why It Matters
Clipfish played a role in the early German streaming landscape as a RTL-owned video platform. Its closure and replacement by Watchbox reflect broader shifts in media strategies toward more competitive streaming services. The platform’s 11-year operation highlights the evolution of online video consumption in Germany.

## Notable For
- **Replacement by Watchbox**: Marked RTL’s pivot to newer streaming brands.
- **Specific launch and closure dates**: Operated from June 14, 2006, to July 2017.
- **Ownership by RTL interactive**: Tied to a major European media conglomerate.
- **German-focused service**: Exclusively served the German market under clipfish.de.

## Body

### History
Clipfish launched on June 14, 2006, as a German video platform under the ownership of RTL interactive, a subsidiary of the RTL media group. The platform’s inception was documented in a 2008 academic paper from the University of Cologne. It operated for over a decade before RTL announced its closure in July 2017, citing strategic restructuring.

### Ownership and Operations
RTL interactive managed Clipfish as part of its digital media portfolio. The platform’s primary domain, clipfish.de, hosted video content tailored to German audiences. Its logo and branding were distinct, with visual assets archived on Wikimedia Commons.

### Closure and Legacy
In July 2017, RTL discontinued Clipfish to focus on its successor, Watchbox. This transition was reported by Golem.de, emphasizing the media group’s efforts to adapt to changing streaming trends. Clipfish’s dissolution underscored the competitive challenges faced by early video platforms in the German market.

### Online Presence
Clipfish maintained an official website at http://www.clipfish.de/, with minimal international reach (Wikipedia pages only in German). Its digital footprint included a verified Google Knowledge Graph entry (/g/1214f_7m) and a single sitelink. The platform’s aliases, such as clipfish.de, redirected to its primary domain.

### Technical and Cultural Context
As both a website and online video platform, Clipfish represented RTL’s early foray into digital content distribution. Its replacement by Watchbox signaled a broader industry shift toward streamlined, brand-focused streaming services. Despite its closure, Clipfish remains a notable example of Germany’s evolving digital media ecosystem.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.presseportal.de/pm/55091/868516)
2. [Source](https://mtm.uni-koeln.de/team-loebbecke-publications-conf-proceedings/Conf-118-2008-Understanding%20the%20Success%20of%20New%20Media%20Startups-WorldMediaEcon2008.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.golem.de/news/nachfolger-watchbox-rtl-beendet-streamingportal-clipfish-1707-129137.html)