As it slowly transforms from a social network into a media company, Facebook Watch is the company’s latest step into the latter.
With its website and apps running out of space for ad placements, an entirely new video app which feeds off the Facebook name seemingly makes business sense.
No ad to show here.
The service is the company’s social video platform, which will host a number of Facebook-funded shows, sports and shows from outside creators. There’s no word on whether the entire swathe of video on Facebook will be available on Watch.
“Shows are made up of episodes — live or recorded — and follow a theme or storyline,” the company adds in a press release.
The company claims that the difference maker is its personalisation and community interaction at large, claiming that comments and reactions to videos are “often as much a part of the experience as the video itself”.
Facebook Watch gives the company another way to place advertisements on your screen
“So when you watch a show, you can see comments and connect with friends and other viewers while watching, or participate in a dedicated Facebook Group for the show,” it adds.
It explains this notion in more depth below:
Watch is personalized to help you discover new shows, organized around what your friends and communities are watching. For example, you’ll find sections like “Most Talked About,” which highlights shows that spark conversation, “What’s Making People Laugh,” which includes shows where many people have used the “Haha” reaction, and “What Friends Are Watching,” which helps you connect with friends about shows they too are following.
Initially at least, you won’t find the likes of Breaking Bad, Lost or Survivor on Facebook Watch. Instead, the service will launch with a cooking show Little Kitchen, talk show Nas Daily, and a Gabby Bernstein show.
The company will also fund a number of shows, reaping revenue from advertising, in addition to one live game of Major League Baseball per week.
While the company is planning apps for Android, iOS, desktop and television, it will initially only be available for a select number of US users. An initial limited number of creators is also planned.
