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Snapchat shutters originals channel

Social media app Snapchat has shuttered its Snap Channel business and is ending its brief foray into original content creation with the exit of former Fox comedy exec Marcus Wiley.

Marcus Wiley

Marcus Wiley

Snap Channel, which provides users with branded daily video clips and other related content, will be closed permanently with Wiley, head of programme planning and development, leaving the firm.

The former senior VP of comedy at Fox only joined in May and was charged with overseeing original content on Snap Channel, which appeared via its Discover platform that was launched after partnerships with ESPN, Daily Mail, Vice and National Geographic.

The fledgling service had also announced deals with Food Network and MTV and earlier this year appointed former magazine editor Rachel Richardson as its global head of editorial content.

Richardson’s future is unclear at present, as is that of Sean Mills, former president of satirical site Onion, who became chief of original content in June. Around 15 other members of staff are affected, according to Deadline, which first reported the news.

Snapchat said in a statement that because the firm is “winding down Snap Channel, it’s natural that Marcus would want to explore other opportunities. He is a tremendous talent and we wish him well.” The Discover facility will now only use content from Snapchat’s existing partners.

It’s not the first tech firm to have axed content creation arms, with Microsoft shuttering Xbox Entertainment Studios earlier this year. Reports suggest Snapchat could explore original content again but that the Snap Channel platform will be shuttered for good.

Last month, Snapchat expanded its partnership with Comedy Central in the US to offer users new and exclusive original series via the app.

Swag-A-Saurus became the first original series to premiere on Comedy Central’s channel on Snapchat in September, while further original series from comedians Nikki Glaser, Liza Treyger, Yassir Lester and Michelle Wolf are planned.

LA-based Snapchat initially specialised in allowing users to share photos but moved into video last year, providing TV companies with video clips every 24 hours to its users. The service claims its users, the majority of whom are teenagers, view more than 500 million stories every day.

Earlier this year, the firm valued itself at US$19bn while attempting to raise around US$500m in additional funding, according to Bloomberg.

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