Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson spotlighted original entertainment content as a bright spot in the company’s endeavors to reclaim its industry leader status.
During Yahoo’s Q1 2012 earnings call, he made sure the press knew that the company’s media property page views increased 10 percent. Additionally, the minutes spent in media properties on communications increased 14 percent, and on communities increased 8 percent.
“These results are clearly the right direction for our business and I am very excited about our opportunities ahead,” Thompson blogged. “I know we can deliver even more with our new structure, business priorities and clear focus. I am more convinced than ever of the value of our assets and the potential of this business.”
Original and partner content will be a key part of the company’s future, including programs that Yahoo said demonstrated the quality of its collaborations with top production partners like: First Dates With Toby Harris featuring Seth Morris (Funny or Die); Sketchy (Electus/Principato-Young Entertainment), and 7 Minutes in Heaven with Mike O’Brien (Broadway Video).
The flip side of that coin isn’t so shiny, however. Display advertising revenue slipped by 4 percent, having already dropped 4 percent the previous quarter.
Related links:
Yahoo – Yahoo Reports First Quarter 2012 Results
Yahoo – Scott Thompson blog post
Wall Street Journal – New Yahoo CEO Talks Big as Firm Faces Uphill Battle
CNN Money – Yahoo CEO: ‘We don’t need to reinvent who we are’
Forbes – Yahoo CEO’s Turnaround Plan: Do Less, Do It Better
Reuters – Yahoo earnings beat Street in first quarter under CEO Scott Thompson
MarketWatch – Yahoo plan sounds like same old song
