Facebook Watch is a video platform by Facebook where users can view, share, and interact with videos posted by individuals, publishers, and organizations. It was launched in 2017 as a dedicated place on Facebook for watching videos. Here are some key things to know about Facebook Watch:
Watching Videos
The main purpose of Facebook Watch is for watching videos. It provides a dedicated space within the Facebook app and desktop site for users to browse and watch videos that have been shared to Facebook. Videos on Watch can include things like:
- Clips posted by individual users
- Content from media companies and publishers
- Original episodic content produced exclusively for Facebook Watch
Users can scroll through videos on Watch based on categories like “Most Talked About,” “What’s Making People Laugh,” “What Friends Are Watching,” and more. There are also sections for exploring videos based on interests like gaming, sports, beauty, and news.
Interacting with Videos
Facebook Watch allows users to interact with videos in different ways, such as:
- Reacting: Users can tap on the “Like,” “Love,” “Haha,” “Wow,” “Sad,” and “Angry” reactions while watching to react to moments they enjoy or find interesting.
- Commenting: Users can add comments about videos as they watch to join in discussions.
- Sharing: Any video on Watch can be shared to a user’s own Timeline, in Messenger, or to a Group or Page they manage.
Video creators and publishers can then see these interactions to understand what resonates with viewers. Comments and reactions also fuel the algorithm that recommends videos to users based on relevance.
Facebook Watch Originals
In addition to user-generated and publisher video content, Facebook has invested over $1 billion into developing original video content exclusively for Facebook Watch. This includes shows across genres like reality, comedy, drama, and talk shows.
Some popular Facebook Watch originals include:
- Red Table Talk – A talk show hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
- Steve on Watch – A show hosted by comedian Steve Harvey.
- Ball in the Family – A reality show following basketball star Lonzo Ball and his family.
- Sacred Lies – A drama series based on a cult and grifters.
Facebook pays content creators and licenses shows for Watch originals. The goal is to drive more video engagement and viewership on the platform.
Monetization for Video Creators
Facebook Watch provides options for video creators and publishers to monetize their content through ad revenue sharing. These include:
- In-stream ads – Video creators can insert ads into their videos, and they will receive a 55% share of the resulting revenue.
- Ad breaks – Facebook can insert ads during natural breaks in videos that are at least 3 minutes long. Revenue is shared 55% to creators.
- Branded content – Creators can produce sponsored videos and get paid directly by brands.
To be eligible to earn money from Watch, creators must meet certain follower thresholds, view counts, and content guidelines. But it provides another way for video makers to potentially profit from their work.
Watch Parties
Facebook Watch includes a feature called Watch Parties that lets users watch videos together in real time with friends and groups:
- Users can invite friends to a Watch Party by creating a group or selecting people to join.
- Everyone watches the video simultaneously, and comments and reactions made by anyone are visible to the group.
- Any public video can be viewed in a Watch Party – not just videos on Watch.
Watch Parties make videos more social and communal. Groups can virtually get together for shared viewing experiences even when physically apart.
Differences from Facebook Video
It’s important to note some key differences between Facebook Watch and regular video posting on Facebook:
| Facebook Watch | Facebook Video |
|---|---|
| Dedicated video watching experience | Videos interspersed in News Feed |
| Long-form content prioritized | Short-form content common |
| Original programming | Mostly user-generated content |
While users can still upload and share videos as posts on Facebook that appear in people’s feeds, Watch is intended as a focused video destination for seeking out and browsing videos to watch.
Conclusion
Facebook Watch provides a central place on Facebook for watching videos and shows. Key features include sections for exploring video content, original shows and series, interactive options like commenting and sharing, monetization opportunities for creators, and social viewing with Watch Parties.
By dedicating a space for video, Facebook is aiming to increase engagement, viewership, and time spent by users consuming video content. The platform competes with other major video services like YouTube, Instagram TV, Snapchat Discover, and more for both user attention and video ad revenues.
But with billions of existing Facebook users that can be directed to Watch, the platform has significant potential to shape the future of video entertainment and become a mainstream destination for video content creators looking to build and engage an audience.