Facebook TV Coming
Facebook, is reportedly planning to launch around two dozen original “TV-like” programs in mid-June.
Back in December, rumors started flying that Facebook was looking to follow Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix into the original content game. And now, multiple sources tell Business Insider that those plans are well under way.
Sources are framing this push as Facebook simultaneously picking up the torch of advertiser-supported television as well as an attempt to keep pace with Snapchat. With premium services like Amazon reducing the number of cable subscribers, ad-based networks like YouTube see an opportunity to snatch up defectors. And while Snapchat is still far behind Facebook in user count, Zuckerberg worries that his company is behind the times when it comes to innovation and attracting younger eyeballs.
Back in December, rumors started flying that Facebook was looking to follow Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix into the original content game. And now, multiple sources tell Business Insider that those plans are well under way.
Sources are framing this push as Facebook simultaneously picking up the torch of advertiser-supported television as well as an attempt to keep pace with Snapchat. With premium services like Amazon reducing the number of cable subscribers, ad-based networks like YouTube see an opportunity to snatch up defectors. And while Snapchat is still far behind Facebook in user count, Zuckerberg worries that his company is behind the times when it comes to innovation and attracting younger eyeballs.
Business Insider’s sources say that Facebook will be getting a reimagined video tab and a lot of comedic shows that last between five and thirty minutes. But execs are also looking to produce higher quality content. Only time will tell if the platform is appropriate for that kind of content and whether or not the company has secured the right curatorial talent to greenlight that type of project. Facebook has hired Ricky Van Veen, co-founder of CollegeHumor, to handle its original acquisitions.
Honestly, it doesn’t seem like you should expect much. When asked why people would start seeing Facebook as a video destination, one source said, “Facebook hasn’t figured it out, and another said, “That’s a needle they have to thread.”
