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CollegeHumor shuts down

washingtonpost.com

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Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#91

Post by Waterluvian »

ErikAugust wrote: post #61

CollegeHumor did not shut down, from the article itself: “In words that I’m sure are as surreal to read as they are to type, I will soon become the new majority owner of CH Media,” said Reich, a longtime executive at CollegeHumor. “Of course, I can’t keep it going like you’re used to. While we were on the way to becoming profitable, we were nonetheless losing money — and I myself have no money to be able to lose.” Dr…

I don't follow. How is that not "shutting down"? It's contracted to life support in order to empty the existing pipeline to minimize losses.

Maybe this is a Ship of Theseus kind of thing. They get rid of almost all employees, empty the pipeline, and then retool. What's left of College Humor?

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#92

Post by jedberg »

Presumably Sam now owns the rights to all the content. He could shop it around to Netflix/Hulu/Amazon. I’ll bet one of them would pick it up and maybe even give him a budget to hire some of the writers back and make new content again.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#93

Post by wmil »

shawabawa3 wrote: post #79
synlatexc wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FB's measure of views was dubious (3 seconds, even if the audio was off). So the #s looked great for them, but in reality the majority of views were just glimpses as people scrolled through their news feed.

I don't understand why publishers moved everything wholesale onto Facebook without doing some research Why not put up a few videos and compare ad revenue? When it didn't add up they could just move back...

They were selling their own ads based on Facebook's numbers, then had to refund advertisers when they found out the truth.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#94

Post by macspoofing »

neaden wrote: post #80
macspoofing wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>CollegeHumor is blaming this on Facebook for faking viewership numbers. Facebook should certainly be held responsible for their part, but let's not let CollegeHumor of the hook. In the end, they are responsible for their business, and moving to an unproven platform is very risky no matter what promises FB sales people tell you.

That's ridiculous. If someone commits fraud and you believe them that is their fault, not yours for being a victim.

I'm not saying you don't hold FB responsible for lying. If they made false promises they should be sued and the courts should make a proper judgement.

Having said that, if you're CollegeHumor, what you can't do is abrogate responsibility for your business decisions, one of which is risking your entire business on an unproven video platform based on the promises of FB salespeople. You still have a responsibility to validate the platform and not just be a fully trusting stooge. It's like a pedestrian crossing the street when the light is green. The pedestrian should still look both ways, even if they are in the right because it's no consolation to be dead and correct.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#95

Post by badloginagain »

Waterluvian wrote: post #91
ErikAugust wrote: post #61

CollegeHumor did not shut down, from the article itself: “In words that I’m sure are as surreal to read as they are to type, I will soon become the new majority owner of CH Media,” said Reich, a longtime executive at CollegeHumor. “Of course, I can’t keep it going like you’re used to. While we were on the way to becoming profitable, we were nonetheless losing money — and I myself have no money to be able to lose.” Dr…

I don't follow. How is that not "shutting down"? It's contracted to life support in order to empty the existing pipeline to minimize losses. Maybe this is a Ship of Theseus kind of thing. They get rid of almost all employees, empty the pipeline, and then retool. What's left of College Humor?

I take "shut down" as an immediate stop to all services. Domain doesn't resolve, etc.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#98

Post by stagger87 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #91
ErikAugust wrote: post #61

CollegeHumor did not shut down, from the article itself: “In words that I’m sure are as surreal to read as they are to type, I will soon become the new majority owner of CH Media,” said Reich, a longtime executive at CollegeHumor. “Of course, I can’t keep it going like you’re used to. While we were on the way to becoming profitable, we were nonetheless losing money — and I myself have no money to be able to lose.” Dr…

I don't follow. How is that not "shutting down"? It's contracted to life support in order to empty the existing pipeline to minimize losses. Maybe this is a Ship of Theseus kind of thing. They get rid of almost all employees, empty the pipeline, and then retool. What's left of College Humor?

> What's left of College Humor?

The company.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#99

Post by geddy »

echelon wrote: post #24

CollegeHumor is blaming this on Facebook for faking viewership numbers. This isn't the first time Facebook killed culture, and it won't be the last. We really need to de-platform or find a way Facebook can't steal value.

> This isn't the first time Facebook killed culture

You know, I never really thought about it this way, but the way you worded it is perfect.

I talk about the "good old days" of the Internet, and it always comes down to Facebook ruining everything. I'd pin it around 2012. You're spot on though - Facebook outright murders internet culture. God, I despise that company and what it stands for so much.

Re: CollegeHumor shuts down

#100

Post by geddy »

jedberg wrote: post #92

Presumably Sam now owns the rights to all the content. He could shop it around to Netflix/Hulu/Amazon. I’ll bet one of them would pick it up and maybe even give him a budget to hire some of the writers back and make new content again.

Putting it all behind yet another walled garden? Before you know it, 90% of the internet will be gated behind paywalls or signups.
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