Marissa Mayer, chief executive of Yahoo, announced on Monday that the company will offer two original TV series to be shown exclusively on Yahoo's websites and mobile apps.
The decision puts Yahoo in competition with technology companies offering original TV content such as Amazon.com, Google, Microsoft, Hulu and Netflix, according to The New York Times.
"Users expect online content to be as good as, if not better than, TV," Mayer said at Yahoo's annual presentation of new digitals offerings to advertisers at Lincoln Center.
The two comedy shows will be available on Yahoo Screen, Apple TV and Roku next year, CNET reported. Both shows will span eight 30-minute-long episodes each.
The first show is called "Other Space," which will be directed by Paul Feig, who directed the Emmy-nominated show "The Office," the film "Bridesmaids," and also created "Freaks and Geeks". The show will focus on a group of space travelers from Earth in the 22nd century who end up traveling into an alternate universe. The second show, called "Sin City Saints," focuses on a Silicon Valley billionaire and his dream of owning a pro basketball franchise in Las Vegas. Bryan Gordon, a fellow Emmy-nominated director for "The Office" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm", as well as Mike Tollin, executive producer of "One Tree Hill" and "Smallville", will be involved in the show.
Tollin said in an interview that "Sin City Saints" will be a great show for Yahoo's young, mobile, sports-loving audience, The New York Times reported.
"They are fishing for their phones, tablets or laptops," he said.
Yahoo also announced a partnership with events promoter LiveNation. As part of the deal, Yahoo will stream one concert per day for the next several years, along with extra behind-the-scenes footages such as exclusive interviews, CNET reported. Yahoo intends to offer the performances on its new music channel, which will launch in July. Talent for the roster will include acts playing in stadiums as well as new bands playing smaller venues.
