DirecTV (NYSE: T) announced that it is shutting down its Spanish-language streaming platform, Yaveo, just a year after launching it.
"We regret to inform you that we are not accepting new subscribers and will no longer be offering Yaveo after December 16, 2015," reads a message on the Yaveo site. "However, we will continue to offer high quality Spanish-language entertainment through DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse."
DirecTV said the service would shut down on Dec. 16. DirecTV launched the $7.99 service in December 2014, featuring on-demand programming from Univision, Cine Sony Television, beIn Sports en Espanol, MTV and Canal 22, among other channels. The shuttering was first reported by TV News Check.
As AT&T (NYSE: T) CEO Randall Stephenson said Tuesday while speaking to investors, DirecTV's parent company is focusing on the launch of a broadly targeted mobile video platform, leveraging DirecTV's reach and program licensing deals. As TV News Check notes, that service could include a Spanish-language programming tier that would render Yaveo unnecessary.
"Yaveo gets DirecTV into the OTT business, and we're excited to start with a compelling Spanish-language service targeted to the Hispanic community," said Paul Guyardo, chief revenue and marketing officer for DirecTV, commenting last year amid the service's launch. "We'll learn a great deal, use the findings to grow and improve the Yaveo platform and expand our OTT offering over time."
For more:
- read this Yaveo message
- read this TV Predictions story
Related articles:
AT&T's Stephenson says new mobile video service will begin 'turning heads' in January
Hispanic audiences, and $1.5T in buying power, trend toward OTT
DirecTV launches Spanish-language streaming service Yaveo