Facebook Watch is a video service operated by Facebook where users can view content from professional creators, media companies, and other sources. The service was first launched in 2017 as a dedicated place on Facebook for watching videos. Since then, Facebook has continued to invest in and expand Facebook Watch, incorporating it into the main Facebook app experience.
Is there still a standalone Facebook Watch app?
When Facebook Watch first launched in 2017, there was a standalone Facebook Watch app available for download on mobile devices and TV platforms. This allowed users to access Facebook Watch content directly within the dedicated app, separate from the main Facebook app.
However, in 2019 Facebook discontinued the standalone Facebook Watch app. The app was removed from app stores and was no longer supported. Instead, Facebook Watch was integrated directly into the main Facebook app itself.
So as of 2023, there is no longer a separate Facebook Watch app. The Facebook Watch video service exists within the main Facebook app, rather than as its own standalone app.
How do I access Facebook Watch now?
Since Facebook Watch is now incorporated into the main Facebook mobile app and website, users can access Facebook Watch video content directly in the same places they normally access Facebook:
- On the Facebook mobile app for iOS and Android, look for the Watch tab at the bottom or top of the screen. This is where Facebook Watch videos can be browsed and played.
- On the Facebook website, click Watch in the left side menu bar. This is where Facebook Watch videos appear.
- When scrolling through the News Feed, Facebook Watch videos from pages, creators, and publishers may appear alongside other content.
Videos can be played right within the app and website without needing to open a separate video player. So Facebook Watch is now simply integrated into the same Facebook experience people were already using to connect with friends and follow interests.
What kind of content is on Facebook Watch?
Facebook Watch offers a wide variety of video content from creators, publishers, and organizations across Facebook. Some types of content available on Facebook Watch include:
- Original and exclusive shows produced just for Facebook Watch
- Popular and viral videos shared across Facebook
- Live streams from interesting personalities and pages
- News recaps and analysis from media publishers
- Movie trailers, show clips, and music videos
- Sports highlights and commentary
- Gaming live streams and videos
- DIY, cooking, beauty, comedy and other instructional videos
The content on Facebook Watch comes from a mix of individual content creators making original videos for Facebook as well as established media companies and publishers distributing video content through Watch. There are shows, live streams, and videos tailored to almost every interest and audience on Facebook.
What are some popular shows on Facebook Watch?
Here are some examples of popular shows and exclusive content currently available on Facebook Watch:
- Red Table Talk – Open conversation show featuring Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and Jada’s mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
- Steve on Watch – Show featuring comedian and TV host Steve Harvey.
- Ball in the Family – Reality show following basketball star Lonzo Ball and his family.
- Returning the Favor – Host Mike Rowe finds inspiring people to help out and support.
- The Real World Homecoming – Reunion of the classic MTV reality show The Real World.
Facebook is continually investing in more original shows, live content, and partnering with creators to develop video content specifically for Facebook Watch. The platform has become an outlet for premium video content beyond the viral user-generated content typically associated with Facebook.
How do I find videos to watch on Facebook Watch?
There are a few ways to discover videos to watch based on your interests:
- Watch Feed – When you first open the Watch tab, you’ll see a personalized Watch feed with suggested videos based on pages you follow and other factors.
- Categories – Scroll through categories like Comedy, Beauty & Fashion, Gaming, Sports to find relevant videos.
- Search – Use the search bar to find videos about a specific show, creator, topic, or interest.
- Suggested Shows – Facebook suggests shows and creators to follow based on your interests and profile.
- Following – Videos from creators and publishers you follow will appear at the top of Watch.
As you browse, watch, like, and follow more videos – Facebook will continue to refine and personalize the Watch feed to better recommend content for your tastes.
Can I create my own Facebook Watch show?
Facebook is continually expanding the tools available for creators to make their own shows for Facebook Watch.
To be eligible to create a funded show for Facebook Watch, you must first meet the following requirements:
- Have a Facebook Profile and be in good standing
- Have at least 10,000 authentic followers on Facebook
- Post at least 3 videos per week consistently over the last 4 weeks
- Live in a supported country
If you meet the above requirements, you can apply through the Facebook Watch Creator app to be considered for funding for an original show. Funding amounts vary but can be up to $10,000 per episode in some cases.
You don’t need funding from Facebook to post your own videos however. Any video content creators and publishers can share videos on Facebook Watch as long as they comply with Facebook’s content policies.
How do I subscribe and follow shows on Facebook Watch?
Following shows and creators you like on Facebook Watch allows you to keep up with new episodes and videos:
- Go to the page of the show or creator you want to follow
- Click on the Follow button to subscribe and get notified about new videos
- A red icon will indicate you are following that show and creator
- New videos from creators and shows you follow will appear at the top of your Watch feed
You can manage all the shows, creators, publishers and friends you are following through the Following section of Facebook Watch.
Can I watch Facebook Watch on TV?
Facebook Watch can be viewed on TV screens in a few different ways:
- Smart TV Apps – Download the Facebook Watch app available for many smart TV platforms like Samsung, Sony, and LG.
- Media Streaming Devices – Watch Facebook Watch via streaming media players like Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV.
- Web Browser – Pull up Facebook Watch in your web browser on your TV’s internet connection.
- Screen Mirroring – For TVs without dedicated apps or streaming devices, you can mirror your mobile screen to your TV using screen casting technologies.
So whether your TV is brand new with all the apps or older without many connected features, you still have options to watch Facebook Watch on the big screen.
Can I control data usage for Facebook Watch?
If you are concerned about data usage when watching videos in the Facebook mobile apps, there are settings to control and limit how much data Facebook uses:
- Data Saver – Enabling this setting limits data usage for video playback. Videos will stream at a lower quality but use less data.
- Auto-Play – Turn off auto-play so videos don’t play automatically and use up data without your knowledge.
- Downloads – Download videos to your device over WiFi so you can then watch them later without using cellular data.
- Mobile Data Settings – Set cellular data limits for Facebook overall or disable background mobile data usage.
Using these options allows you to optimize Facebook Watch based on your specific data needs and cell phone plan limitations.
Does Facebook Watch have ads?
Most videos on Facebook Watch do contain advertisements. Facebook relies on ads on Watch as a key way to generate revenue and fund content creators.
However, there are certain ways ads may appear:
- Pre-roll ads – Short ads play before the video begins
- Mid-roll ads – Ads appear in the middle of longer videos
- Display ads – Banner ads and boxes around the video player
The number and type of ads depend on the video length and creator. Ad frequency may increase over time as Facebook looks to further monetize Watch.
Paid subscriptions to certain creators and publishers through Facebook’s Subscriptions product can offer an ad-free watching experience.
Conclusion
While the standalone Facebook Watch app is no longer available, the Watch video platform has become an integral part of the main Facebook app experience. Users can find and watch a wide range of video content right within Facebook for convenient viewing on mobile, web, and TV platforms. Facebook continues to invest in original programming, creator partnerships, and recommendations to make Watch a go-to video destination alongside YouTube and other services.