A Change in Direction for Go90 as Verizon Fires 15
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Posted On: 01/28/2017 10:34:13 AM
A Change in Direction for Go90 as Verizon Fires 155 Workers
Verizon's free app-based video bundle for mobile-using millennials never found an audience. Now, the team behind Vessel will rebuild it.
Launched in September 2015, Verizon's Go90 never found a place with its target audience. Now, it's getting a redo as it's rebuilt by a different team.
Late last week, Verizon laid off 155 Go90 employees, Variety reports, most of whom worked in the company's main office in San Jose, California. The free streaming video service is available through mobile apps, and was launched as a fresh millennial spin on over-the-top bundled services. It offers deep social integrations and the ability to create and share quick clips.
Verizon struck big licensing deals to acquire content for the service, but poor audience engagement numbers led to advertising partners falling away.
Go90 will now be rebuilt by Richard Tom, one co-founder of Vessel, the streaming video service created by Hulu founders in 2015, then acquired by Verizon in October 2016. Vessel was shuttered on October 31, 2016. Despite Vessel's failing, Variety reports Tom has a strong reputation within the company.
Verizon denies the new leadership and staffing signals a change in strategy for Go90: "These changes are not indicative to a change in our strategy and we remain committed to rapidly enhancing our existing online video products and delivering new products," it said in a statement sent to Variety.
Verizon's free app-based video bundle for mobile-using millennials never found an audience. Now, the team behind Vessel will rebuild it.
Launched in September 2015, Verizon's Go90 never found a place with its target audience. Now, it's getting a redo as it's rebuilt by a different team.
Late last week, Verizon laid off 155 Go90 employees, Variety reports, most of whom worked in the company's main office in San Jose, California. The free streaming video service is available through mobile apps, and was launched as a fresh millennial spin on over-the-top bundled services. It offers deep social integrations and the ability to create and share quick clips.
Verizon struck big licensing deals to acquire content for the service, but poor audience engagement numbers led to advertising partners falling away.
Go90 will now be rebuilt by Richard Tom, one co-founder of Vessel, the streaming video service created by Hulu founders in 2015, then acquired by Verizon in October 2016. Vessel was shuttered on October 31, 2016. Despite Vessel's failing, Variety reports Tom has a strong reputation within the company.
Verizon denies the new leadership and staffing signals a change in strategy for Go90: "These changes are not indicative to a change in our strategy and we remain committed to rapidly enhancing our existing online video products and delivering new products," it said in a statement sent to Variety.
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