Social media giant Facebook has made a move into dedicated
video, pitting it against YouTube and TV networks.
Users will soon see a new Watch tab that will offer a range
of shows, some of which have been funded by the social network
Watch will be personalised so that users can discover new
shows, based on what their friends are watching.
Viewers will also be able to see comments and connect with
friends and dedicated groups for shows.
“Watching a show doesn’t have to be passive,” said the company’s
founder Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post.
“It can be a chance to share an experience and bring people
together who care about the same things.”
Video has been available on Facebook for some time, but
until now, it has mostly been dominated by amateur clips or short segments from
news organisations.
The world’s largest social network added a video tab last
year, and has hinted for some time that it might make the move to producing
original content.
Watch could open up new revenue potential for both Facebook
and programme makers, while users can expect to see targeted advertising before
and during the shows.
Crowded market
Facebook is entering an increasingly complex and crowded
market, and will face competition from traditional TV networks as well as other
online services like YouTube and Netflix.
Disney yesterday announced that from 2019, it will scrap its
existing deal with Netflix and create its own direct-to-consumer
streaming-video services.
It will also set up a sports-themed ESPN streaming service
next year.
Facebook already has content lined up, including Major
League Baseball, Women’s basketball, parenting shows and a safari show from
National Geographic.
According to Reuters news agency, it has also inked deals
with millennial-oriented media groups Vox Media, BuzzFeed, ATTN, Group Nine
Media and others to produce shows.
Watch will have a limited release in the US before it is
rolled out more broadly.
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