That was fast. It looks like it didn’t take Snapchat that long to figure out that making original programming that people actually want to watch isn’t exactly easy, because the company has decided to shutdown Snap Channel, for good. It’s brief foray into the world of traditional entertainment was clearly a failed experiment, as what little content the Snap Channel section actually had wasn’t well received, and had next to no viewers. Snapchat even bought a big studio building where it was going to produce all of its original content, but obviously that’s not going to happen anymore.
Having temporarily removed its original content from the Discover platform last month, Snapchat has now taken the decision to permanently shut down “Snap Channel” and has laid off most of the team behind the original videos, stories and shows. “Snap Channel” was launched in January as the company’s attempt to produce original content, sitting alongside its network of media partners, including CNN, ESPN and Comedy Central, on the Discover platform. Deadline reported that most of the team of 15 people involved in “Snap Channel” will be laid off, and the man leading the effort, Marcus Wiley, will also leave. The former Fox Broadcasting senior vice president of comedy, who oversaw “The Mindy Project” and “New Girl,” was a high-profile hire for the company in May as head of program planning and development. “Given that we are winding down the Snap Channel, it’s natural that Marcus would want to explore other opportunities. He is a tremendous talent, and we wish him well,” the company said in a statement to Deadline.