
Yahoo has shut down its video service called Yahoo Screen, putting an end to theΒ effort to compete against YouTube and capture the video market. Instead of having a centralized hub for shows like Community, Saturday Night Live, and a lineup of original series, content isΒ now being divided up among the various magazines and sections in Yahooβs network. First reported byΒ Variety, the end of Yahoo Screen happened in December, with a company spokesperson telling the publication: βAt Yahoo, weβre constantly reviewing and iterating on our products as we strive to create the best user experience. 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.β Critics have been quick to pounce on this move as another sign Yahoo is in trouble thatΒ could soundΒ the death knell for Marissa Mayerβs tenure as chief executive. Launched in 2013, Yahoo Screen took all the video content scattered throughout Yahooβs extensive network and made it easy for viewers to find in one app. Shows that one could find includedΒ Losing It With John Stamos and Jack Blackβs Ghost Ghirls, and it even provided a place for YahooΒ to test and promote its original programming. Mayer put so much behind video that it became part of herΒ MaVeNS strategy: mobile, video, native, and social. In 2014, she touted Yahoo Screenβs success, saying that in the second quarter, it saw a 22 percent quarter over quarter increase in daily active users, which equated to a 67 percent annual increase. Ultimately,Β things didnβt workΒ out well for the Sunnyvale, California-based company; not only did it take a $42 million write-down for Community, but Mayer signaled a change in direction (surprise!) during Yahooβs fourth quarter earnings call. Now instead of residing in a central repository, premium content is going to be split up into different magazines, which might make things more relevant to users. So now youβre going to find future livestreams of NFL games (if there are any) on Yahoo Sports, concerts on Yahoo Music, and more. But the shutdown of Yahoo Screen closes a chapter in the companyβs efforts to really capitalize on video content and compete against YouTube.