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Seven of the eight shows are live now with new episodes launching on Mondays. Spurlock's show, "Failure Club" will kick off in November.
Mickie Rosen, senior vp of the Yahoo Media Network, announced the new shows here at a press event, highlighting that Yahoo had all 10 of the top 10 most-watched Web shows in August.
She also unveiled the launch of Yahoo Screen, which she said would be the most comprehensive premium video content library on the Web and combine Yahoo video content with programming from around 70 partners, including Hulu, CBS, Turner Sports, Discovery, Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, Funny or Die and ABC News.
The Yahoo shows for women include "OMG! Now," an entertainment and celebrity news show that has already drawn a crowd for the online company, "Let's Talk About Love" hosted by Nash, Spurlock's "Failure Club," which follows 10 adults with dreams, only one of whom will reach it, health and fitness show "Reluctantly Healthy" with Greer, "Blue Ribbon Hunter" with chef/host Allison Fishman, a travelogue about food festivals, "The Ultimate Proposal" with Mathison, cooking show "Chow Ciao" with Fabio Viviani ("Top Chef" season 5) and "Your Friends Will Never Believe You," a hidden camera show in which stars surprise their biggest fans.
Run times for most of the shows is around three and a half and five and a half minutes, Yahoo executives said. Among the advertising partners for the shows are Unilever and Kraft.
Two of the shows are in-house productions from Yahoo Studios, with others developed in partnership with production companies Electus/Principato-Young Entertainment, FishBowl Worldwide Media, Prime Content and Warrior Poets.
Talent at the press announcement, including Greer, Viviani, Mathison, Fishman and Nash, said that they are excited about online video work as it allows them to be themselves, connect with fans and reach a big audience.
The programming focus is on the U.S., but Yahoo is also looking to expand its programming into foreign markets as well. For example, it is looking at regional versions of "The Thread," its fashion show, executives said.
The Yahoo online series announcement came a day after the company unveiled a video partnership with ABC News and a day after AOL unveiled a slate of original video series.
Rose said Tuesday's news is all part of the "videofication" of the company. "Yahoo is the ultimate producer, partner and distributor of video content online," she said.
Rosen also said that Yahoo is open to other business models, such as subscription components, in the future, but for now it is focused on advertising-supported free content.
– The Hollywood Reporter
