Facebook Watch takes on the world

Facebook Watch, the video-on-demand service, is launching globally after previously only being available in the US. The video destination proved to be somewhat of a success in the US. According to the head of video at Facebook, Fidji Simo, the time spent watching videos has increased by 14 times since the beginning of 2018, and the platform now has over 50 million monthly viewers. The new global expansion offers new opportunities for creators and publishers as they could now reach millions of new people across different countries.

The service features various millennial-focused news outlets such as BuzzFeed, CNN, Vox and Fox News, as well as sports, reality shows and docuseries. It also has Facebook Watch ‘originals’, similar to Netflix’s offering.

Facebook have also taken their most common feedback into consideration and introduced new ways for creators to include and profit from ad breaks. This being said, there are quite a few criteria creators have to meet in order to be able to include ads.

  • Have at least 10,000 followers
  • They must have created video longer than 3 minutes
  • Have attracted more than 30,000 video views lasting more than 1 minute in the past two months

Facebook’s bid to take on YouTube and Netflix with original shows and live programmes will be an interesting one to see develop. If the success in the US is anything to go by, we can expect a similar conclusion globally, and the addition of ad breaks will certainly provide a significant boost to Facebook’s video monetisation tools. There’s no doubt that social-focused channels and platforms will continue to compete with traditional TV offerings.

Latest Posts

B2B brands are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage their audience and stand out amidst the digital noise. One powerful tool that has emerged victorious in impactful storytelling is episodic content. By unfolding narratives across multiple episodes, B2B brands can captivate their audience, foster deeper connections, and drive meaningful engagement.
Read More
Get ready for another social snapshot! Each week, we recap the latest updates in social media to keep you in the know. Let’s jump straight into the highlights: LinkedIn Celebrates a Year of Collaborative Articles Collaborative articles on LinkedIn have thrived in just a year, boasting…
Read More
Worried about AI oppressing your creative mojo? Explore the positive side of artificial intelligence in design and marketing. From owning your story to embracing the messy process.
Read More