by: Jason Del Rey | AdAge.com

Since Ross Levinsohn took over as interim CEO six weeks ago, Yahoo has announced a string of programming and distribution partnerships, including deals with CNBC, Spotify, and Clear Channel's iHeartRadio. Earlier this year, the company started working with ABC News as well. So what does all this deal-making add up to?

In an interview last week, Jim Heckman, Yahoo's chief of strategy and emerging businesses, said that the partnerships should be viewed as Yahoo doubling down on the content verticals where it already has a strong presence, such as news and finance, as well as a move to attract a younger user base.