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The Web giant hasn't yet won the right to make such a claim, but may be heading down that path. A Wall Street Journal article says that the firm has gained exclusive rights to distribute online animation company JibJab's next two video shorts. JibJab is best known for its "This Land" video that caricatured President Bush and Senator Kerry during the presidential election. Viewers called up that short and its sequel about 80 million times, according to Reuters.
The deal is another tangible sign that Yahoo! is exploring a different strategy than Google
Arrangements like those with JibJab may make more sense for Yahoo! than glomming onto TV shows, however. The Web is a unique medium with its own peculiar strengths and weaknesses, so what works on TV doesn't necessarily work online. What's more, the Web outfit is better served in the long run by establishing its own brand of entertainment, rather than acting as TV's ugly stepchild. JibJab has proven that it understands how to reach and entertain Internet users, making it an ideal partner for Yahoo!
As for generating revenue from content deals, Yahoo! clearly has a plan. Unlike TimeWarner's
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Fool contributor Brian Gorman is a freelance writer living in Chicago, Ill. He does not own shares of any companies mentioned here.