Yahoo will release two new comedy series next year in hopes of becoming an even more serious player in Internet video programming.
The expansion announced Monday during a presentation in New York makes Yahoo Inc. the latest technology company to mount a challenge to Netflix Inc., which runs the Internet's largest Internet video subscription service.
Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc. and Hulu.com are among the other companies angling for a piece of the growing audience watching video piped over high-speed Internet connections instead of broadcast signals or cable services.
Yahoo's comedies are "Other Space," a show revolving around an alternate universe set in the 22nd century, and "Sin City Saints," a show about the front-office antics of a fictional basketball team. Both series will consist of eight half-hour episodes.
Financial terms of Yahoo's deals to license the new series weren't disclosed. "Other Space" is the brainchild of three-time Emmy nominee Paul Feig, who has previously worked on acclaimed TV series, "Freaks and Geeks" and "The Office." The creative forces behind "Sin City Saints" include former Emmy nominee Bryan Gordon, who also once worked on "The Office" as well as the HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Yahoo doesn't plan to charge viewers to watch the series. Instead, the Sunnyvale, Calif., company hopes to make money from selling additional advertising.
"Our goal is to not only enable the future but also to help invent it," said Kathy Savitt, Yahoo's chief marketing officer.
Yahoo boasts one of the Web's largest audiences but the company has been struggling for years to come up with compelling products to reverse a long-running decline in ad sales. It made modest progress during the opening three months of the year as its net ad revenue rose 5 percent from last year. CEO Marissa Mayer has repeatedly said it may take several more years before Yahoo's ad sales are keeping pace with the overall Internet market.
Besides the new comedies, Yahoo also announced a video service featuring live concerts and a digital travel magazine.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More