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 has shut down Yahoo Screen, the video hub the beleaguered company launched over two years ago to unite its many original and syndicated programming under one roof.

Yahoo Screen was home to everything from the recent streaming of an overseas NFL game to licensed clips of “Saturday Night Live” to the slate of original series launched last year including former NBC comedy “Community,” from Sony Pictures Television. The ambitious originals initiative led to Yahoo declaring a $42 million writedown late last year.

The plan now is to move the video properties from Yahoo Screen to the company’s many digital magazines, where likeminded content can sit side by side. Streamed concerts from Yahoo Screen’s Live Nation channel, for instance, can now be surrounded with content from Yahoo Muisc.

“At Yahoo, we’re constantly reviewing and iterating on our products as we strive to create the best user experience,” said a Yahoo rep Monday, who confirmed the brand was shuttered last week. “With that in mind, 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.”

The closure of Yahoo Screen is the latest sign of trouble from the Marissa Mayer-led company, which is said to be exploring the sale of its core business after her multi-year turnaround effort has led to little but investor dissatisfaction and executive exodus.

With the wind-down of Yahoo’s originals efforts, more retrenchment in the video area of the company’s business was widely expected under head of media Martha Nelson, who took over the division when chief marketing officer Kathy Savitt decamped for STX Entertainment last year.

Unknown is whether any layoffs are tied to the closure. Ongoing video efforts are still expected to continue to be available on Yahoo, such as daily news reports from Katie Couric.

Yahoo’s comedy originals, which also included “Sin City Saints” and “Other Space,” are now available in the TV section of the site.

Yahoo launched Yahoo Screen in September 2013 with over 1,000 hours of content, including a slate of eight short-form original series and a partnership with Viacom.