I think the peak of new programs getting started has been around 2006-2007 but recently I noticed that less and less programs are launched (and announced on GFY).
Did you notice the same?
I guess it's a combination of market
saturation as well as an industry slow-down.
The days of launching a crappy program for $20k and hoping to become the next NastyDollars or LightSpeed cash are gone.... well, these days were gone for a very long time but the false hopes are gone now finally as well.