Social media platform Snapchat has reportedly shut down their own Snap Channel in the Discover feature of the app that had been introduced to users in January. Along with its demise, the two short series featured on the channel, Literally Can’t Even and Pillow Talk, came to an abrupt end. The two short-form shows had received negative views from most viewers, with some calling it the “worst 4 minutes of this day”.
The channel was intended to establish Snapchat as its own media outlet, and would also broadcast exclusive videos to its viewers. When initially removed a few weeks ago, it was reported that the channel had simply been taken down due to remodelling. In an interview with Deadline.com, Snapchat confirmed that it had officially shut down the channel, and will be laying off or reassigning 15 of the staff members that had been hired specifically to cater to the feature.
Marcus Wiley, head of the original programming group, has already left. Although aiming to create and broadcast original content, Snapchat may have miscalculated how audiences would react, and how much it would cost. The company hasn’t given up on producing original content completely, but the Snap Channel chapter has come to an end.
Discover now consists of 15 media channels, with the recent addition of fashion and beauty website Refinery29.
