Nick Grudin, VP media partnerships at Facebook, yesterday announced the launch of Watch:
Watch comprises shows, a new type of video on Facebook. Shows are made up of episodes – live or recorded – that follow a consistent theme or storyline. Shows are a great format if you want to share a video series, like a weekly cooking show, a daily vlog, or a set of videos with recurring characters or themes.
Our goal is for Watch to be a platform for all creators and publishers to find an audience, build a community of passionate fans, and earn money for their work.
Initially, Watch will be available to a limited group of people in the US on mobile, desktop, and our TV apps, before we make it available to more people in the US in the coming weeks. Because we’re early with Watch, we’re starting by testing with a limited group of publishers and creators who are making shows. We are also funding some shows to help seed the ecosystem, gather feedback, and inspire others.
Over time, creators will be able to monetise their shows through Ad Breaks. We’ve been testing Ad Breaks over the past few months, and we will be slowly opening up availability to more creators to ensure we’re providing a good experience for the community. Creators can also create sponsored shows using our branded content tag.