Yahoo’s push for more original content has take a large step forward with the announcement of two new TV style comedies. CEO Marissa Mayer announced the two shows will be exclusive to Yahoo’s website and mobile apps, and are expected to begin screening early next year.
Both the announced shows have considerable talent attached to them at the moment. Emmy nominated director Paul Feig (who worked on Freaks and Geeks and The Office) will be behind a sci-fi comedy set in the 22nd century. Humanity has mapped out all of the known universe and are bored due to the lack of aliens. Things change when a spaceship finds an alternate universe that is “far stranger and way more dangerous than ours”. The other show is being produced by Mike Tollin (One Tree Hill and Smallville), and tells the story of a professional basketball team run by a silicon valley professional.
Unlike other shows produced online, Yahoo fully intends these series to run a full half hour length; or the same amount of time that they would normally have if shown on traditional TV. However, unlike other programming, all eight episodes of each show will be released at once; due to the modern habit of binge watching.
News anchor Katie Couric will also launch two shorter shows on Yahoo. First, a series called “World 3.0,” featuring the disruptors, scientists, builders, innovators and social entrepreneurs who are “hacking” life as we know it. The second is a series called “Now I Get It,” which aims to help people better understand the news drivers and issues of the day by giving them a short, visual explanation in a shareable video.
[Source: New York Times, Yahoo]
