HBO axes comedy website

Project lasted just six months

America’s HBO network is to shut down its comedy website This Just In after just six months.

The site offered spoof news reports and video sketches from new talent that the broadcaster was hoping to nurture.

When it was launched, replacing HBO’s existing comedy website, it was heralded as ‘a robust destination that can have the potential of becoming part of the watercooler pop culture.’

But it never got off the ground, and it will be closed sometime in August.

The failure of the site, which was a joint venture with AOL, has been blamed on a lack of marketing and poor design.

The news comes as a number of similar viral comedy sites prepare to launch in the UK, led by the Warner Music-backed Comedybox.

>> This Just In

Published: 27 Jul 2007

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