Too Much Free Time

Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick




Yahoo To Try Singing News For Its Supper

from the no,-seriously dept

Back in 2005, Yahoo (with its crew of ex-Hollywood execs in charge) decided that it was going to make Yahoo more like a TV network with lots of original video programming. Of course, after a little while, it seemed like the execs there finally realized that was makes the internet powerful is that it's a communications medium, not a broadcast one. After recognizing this, Yahoo admitted that creating original broadcast content might not make much sense and scaled back the effort. Apparently it wasn't scaled back completely. In what strikes of complete and utter desperation, it appears that Yahoo is getting ready to launch a new video news broadcast... using a reporter who will sing the news (via Techmeme). Yes, sing. It seems like whoever thought this up just took a cue from The Naked News and figured that perhaps The Singing News would be more family friendly. Except... it's not clear why anyone would actually want to watch someone sing the news other than once or twice for the sheer novelty factor. However, if you're looking to create something sustainable, generally speaking, something that's viewed as a novelty gimmick probably isn't going to get you very far.

7 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

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  1. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 2:15am

    If I can see Paris and Britney singing their part on "people" news... well that can be fun.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 6:30am
    by Overcast

    Not sure I'd even want to see it once...... lol

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 7:28am
    by Rational Beaver

    I would watch someone belch the news. But not sing.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 7:48am

    singing news

    by Peter

    What really amazes me about this is that someone actually got paid to dream up this totally ridiculus idea.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 1:13pm
    by Solo

    It worked for Cop Rock, right?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Feb 23rd, 2007 @ 3:22pm
    by Erik

    I thought of Cop Rock immediately too. The Naked News has eye candy going for it, singing about death in Iraq and Britney Spears shaving her head will be a novelty for about five minutes.

    And yeah, someone got paid and probably even given an "Atta boy" for this turd of an idea.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Feb 24th, 2007 @ 2:09pm

    Ever Heard of Sing Radio?

    Phil Hendrie did a brilliant Sing Radio bit a few times in 2005, both the news and caller comments were in song. Probably some tool figured, "It might just work." Ah Phil, come back.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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