Facebook Introduces Watch Platform for Shows [Video]

Facebook has announced Watch, a new platform for shows on Facebook.

Watch will be available on mobile, on desktop and laptop, and in our TV apps. Shows are made up of episodes — live or recorded — and follow a theme or storyline. To help you keep up with the shows you follow, Watch has a Watchlist so you never miss out on the latest episodes.

Facebook says Watch will be personalized to help you discover new shows based around what your friends and communities are watching. There will be sections including: Most Talked About, What's Making People Laugh, and What Friends Are Watching.

As a platform for creators and publishers, Facebook thinks a wide variety of shows can be successful, particularly:
● Shows that engage fans and community. Nas Daily publishes a daily show where he makes videos together with his fans from around the world. The Watchlist makes it easy for fans to catch every day’s new episode.
● Live shows that connect directly with fans. Gabby Bernstein, a New York Times bestselling author, motivational speaker, and life coach, uses a combination of recorded and live episodes to connect with her fans and answer questions in real time.
● Shows that follow a narrative arc or have a consistent theme. Tastemade’s Kitchen Little is a funny show about kids who watch a how-to video of a recipe, then instruct professional chefs on how to make it. Each episode features a new child, a new chef, and a new recipe. Unsurprisingly, the food doesn’t always turn out as expected.
● Live events that bring communities together. Major League Baseball is broadcasting a game a week on Facebook, enabling people to watch live baseball while connecting with friends and fellow fans on the platform.

To provide examples community-oriented and episodic video series, Facebook has funded some shows including 'Returning the Favor', a series host by Mike Rowe where he finds people doing something extraordinary for their community and does something extraordinary for them.

Watch is being introduced to a limited group of people in the U.S. and will be expanded to more people soon. Shows will be opened to a limited group of group of creators at first and opened to all in the near future.