This Just In, the video website dubbed by HBO as a comedy portal to be used as both a brand extension and to develop potential shows, is being shut down after just six months.

Variety reports that Time Warner will unwind the venture during the coming weeks, before closing the door on This Just In sometime in August.

Announced in late 2006, new-media executive for HBO, Carmi Zlotnick said at the time the firm hoped to create:

“a robust destination that can have the potential of becoming part of the watercooler pop culture like many of our network programs have become.”

The joint project with AOL (which replaced the latter’s online comedy output) suffered from dwindling viewer numbers thanks to a reports of a confusing layout, not to mention a lack of marketing exposure.

The collapse of the site also follows the departure of several top executives, as well as tough competition from rivals such as CollegeHumor, the Onion and Hollywood actor Will Ferrel’s FunnyOrDie.

There’s nothing funny in this for HBO and AOL here. HBO is now beleived to be working on a new broadband video portal, although specific details are not available.

[Via Variety]

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