Video messaging app shuts down Snap Channel, lays off staff

Highlighting the complicated interaction between the tech world and traditional entertainment, Snapchat has changed course on its original content strategy, deciding to shut down its Snap Channel permanently.

This development also leads to the departure of a number of employees, including Marcus Wiley, Head of Program Planning and Development.

Launched in January, Snap Channel had demonstrated Snapchat’s attempt to develop self-generated original content.

The fast-growing social network made a statement about its ambitions in this aspect when it hired former Fox SVP Comedy Wiley as programming head back in May.

Snapchat had removed the original content-focused Snap Channel from the Discover platform with the promise that it would be relaunched a few weeks ago.

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Wiley and his team had one job – to create the backbone of programming for Snap Channel 2.0, which they had been doing with the company’s blessing.

However, after examining what that could cost money-wise, that plan has been scrapped, with Snapchat temporarily stopping its original programming efforts via Snap Channel and re-evaluating its overall original content strategy.

The company will now rely on the revenue-generating Discover section of the app for all its original content for the time being.