• by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, October 7, 2011

Though logical (from a seller's perspective), it always strikes us as sad (desperate?) to see companies continuing to innovate in the face of looming ownership shifts.    

Hulu is set to change hands any minute, but that didn't stop the video venture from doing a big distribution deal with Univision earlier this week.

Now, despite a swirl of suitors reportedly ready to make Yahoo their own, the troubled company has resolved to become the Web's foremost destination for online video. 

The strategy hinges on Screen, a revamped portal for all of Yahoo's TV shows and premium video content. In addition, Yahoo has announced eight original Web shows for the fall season, all of which will be tailored to women.

With their mostly unscripted, lifestyle-driven theme, new shows include "Reluctantly Healthy," which is hosted by Judy Greer of "Arrested Development" fame, and caters to time-strapped women; "Let's Talk About Love," a relationship show hosted by "Reno 911" star Niecy Nash; and ''Ultimate Proposal," with Cameron Mathison, which employs experts to help men deliver memorable marriage proposals.

The slate adds to about two dozen original series on Yahoo, and while none come to mind, the mix appears to be performing very well.

In August, Yahoo Studios had all 10 of the top 10 most-watched online video series, according to comScore, while, overall, Yahoo sites generated 45.5 million unique viewers -- ahead of both AOL and Hulu.

Going forward, with the help of its own Los Angeles production house, Yahoo reportedly plans to develop additional series, focusing on other demographics and genres.

Not that original content is Yahoo's only play as the company just announced a partnership with ABC News, and is expected to help flesh out Yahoo's video news coverage.

Taking its video ambitions even further, Yahoo is also seen as a possible suitor for Hulu. Whether such a deal could get done before Yahoo is sold remains to be seen.