David Katz Departs Yahoo, Unclear Who Replacement Will Be

David Katz Leaves Yahoo

Yahoo Sports & Entertainment and Studios Head DAVID KATZ, who led the company’s “first consistent effort at original programming, [departed] late last week, at the same time that the company abruptly lost what had been billed as a major video partnership with Current TV,” according to Fritz & Fleming of DAILY VARIETY. Katz, who formerly led CBS’ Internet efforts, joined Santa Monica-based Yahoo Media Group (YMG), headed by LLOYD BRAUN, in ’05. Last spring, “as part of a realignment at YMG, Katz was put in charge of Yahoo Studios, a new unit that oversees original content development and production, while keeping his sports duties.” His departure is “believed to have resulted from conflict with Braun,” who took over Yahoo’s media operations in ’04. It is “not yet clear what impact Katz’s departure may have on the Yahoo Studios strategy or who may replace him atop sports” (DAILY VARIETY, 12/4).