Following news yesterday of Google’s rumored investment in new professional-grade programming, Yahoo has announced a revamp of its video service.
It’s called Yahoo Screen and pulls together the thousands of licensed premium video clips spread about Yahoo’s vast network. At present it’s only available on laptops and desktops though there are plans to bring it to mobile devices too.
According to The Wrap, the new service will also include “such Yahoo shows as Primetime in No Time, The Thread and The Daily Ticker and include Yahoo’s library of video from such outside sources as Hulu, CBS, Howcast, Turner Sports and UFC.” There will also be original content from the likes of Morgan Spurlock, Niecy Nash and Judy Greer.
Channels include ones based around lifestyle, sports, movies, comedy, news, finance and Yahoo originals, with content comprising snippets as well as entire shows.
Yahoo’s vice president of media properties, David Rice, told Fast Company: “The objective [behind the revamp] is to make it easy for me to watch and be entertained.” Presumably that goes for everyone else too.
Rice also said that when you put it all together, Yahoo has the largest library of premium content out there, but that “if you go out and ask consumers and advertisers who’s the leader in video, rarely would they say Yahoo.” Rice is hoping that by organizing the video content better, audience figures will improve and advertisers will be more likely to get involved.
The news of Yahoo Screen’s launch follows an announcement yesterday by Yahoo of a deal with ABC News which will see some of its content appear on the Yahoo network. The web company has also just unveiled plans for eight new programs, aimed specifically at women.
Yahoo’s news regarding its video services comes at a turbulent time for the company as it tries to re-establish it as a leading player in the online world. It is currently on the hunt for a CEO following the dismissal of Carol Bartz at the start of last month, while at the same time there is also talk of the company possibly being up for sale.
