Yahoo backs out of video with closure of Yahoo Screen

Yahoo's video ambitions have folded, as the company decided to shut down Yahoo Screen, the video hub that united its programming under one roof. Q3 earnings showed a $42m loss on Yahoo's original series, highlighting that the company was unable to monetise programming effectively. The company plans to move the video properties from Yahoo Screen to the company's digital magazines, where they can sit alongside similar content. This is another blow to the tech giant, which has continued to flounder under CEO Marissa Mayer, amid speculation that the company is considering selling off its core internet business.   

Yahoo's disintegration as a venerable online media brand has continued with the shutdown of Yahoo Screen, according to a report from Variety today. The company's video platform and mobile app was supposed to be home to both original programming and high-profile shows from established networks. However, Yahoo struggled to compete with heavy hitters like Netflix and Amazon despite licensing deals with Viacom for Comedy Central shows and NBC for Saturday Night Live. Yahoo says its remaining video efforts will redirect to its homepage, which still receives an enormous amount of web traffic, and to its existing online verticals like Yahoo Tech and Yahoo Sports.

"Video content from Yahoo as well as our partners has been transitioned from Yahoo Screen to our Digital Magazine properties so users can discover complementary content in one place," a Yahoo spokesperson told Variety, confirming the shutdown happened last week. It's unclear if no one noticed or if Yahoo took its time shuttering the service. The Yahoo Screen iOS and Android apps appear to have been removed from the respective app stores and Yahoo Screen's web URL now redirects to the company's homepage.

We've seen the signs of Yahoo's video demise for some time now

We've seen the signs of Yahoo's video demise from some time now. The much-appreciated decision to air a sixth season of the TV comedy Community ultimately contributed to a $42 million write down last year. Yahoo also scored a celebrated deal to air an overseas NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars in October, but little else has come of the partnership.