Facebook Watch is Facebook’s video on demand service that was launched in 2017. It allows users to view videos that have been uploaded by individual users, media organizations, and other Facebook partners. Some of the most popular types of content on Facebook Watch include comedic videos, news clips, sports highlights, and reality shows.
What kinds of videos can I find on Facebook Watch?
You can find a wide variety of video content on Facebook Watch. Some of the main categories include:
- Original shows – Facebook has partnered with media companies and content creators to produce exclusive shows for Facebook Watch. These include reality shows, comedies, dramas and more.
- News – Many news organizations have Facebook Watch channels where they post short news clips and segments from their broadcasts.
- Sports – Sports leagues and teams often have Facebook Watch channels where they post game highlights, analysis, and behind-the-scenes footage.
- Comedy – Individual comedians and comedy collectives post funny sketches and stand-up clips.
- DIY/How-To – Instructional videos on everything from make-up tutorials to cooking demos.
- Gaming – Gameplay videos and live streams of people playing popular video games.
- Animals – Cute and funny animal videos are very popular on Facebook Watch.
- Kids – Cartoons, nursery rhymes, and educational videos for children.
In addition to professionally produced content, you can also find a huge amount of user-generated videos that people have shared publicly on Facebook Watch.
What are some of the most popular shows on Facebook Watch?
Some of the most watched and talked about shows on Facebook Watch include:
- Red Table Talk – A talk show hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow, and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
- Steve on Watch – Comedian Steve Harvey hosts this variety/talk show.
- Returning the Favor – Mike Rowe hosts this reality show where he finds people doing good in their community and does something nice for them.
- Ball in the Family – Follows the lives of basketball star Lonzo Ball, his family, and his brothers who also play in the NBA.
- Very Fat, Very Brave – A documentary series following the weight loss journeys of three people.
- 9 Months with Courteney Cox – Courteney Cox explores the world of pregnancy and parenthood.
- Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Fourth Year – An intimate interview with pop star Billie Eilish.
Facebook is continually investing in more high quality original programming. They partner with content creators to develop shows exclusively for the Facebook Watch platform.
What kind of news videos can I find?
Many major news outlets have Facebook Watch channels where you can find news clips on the latest headlines. Some examples include:
- ABC News
- CBS News
- CNN
- Fox News
- MSNBC
- NowThis News
- The Wall Street Journal
- Buzzfeed News
You can watch short 2-3 minute clips summarizing big news stories or longer 10-20+ minute segments that go more in-depth on a topic. News organizations also share some digital-exclusive video content on Facebook Watch that may not air on their TV networks.
What kinds of sports videos are available?
Many professional sports leagues and major college athletic programs have Facebook Watch channels where they share sports highlights, analysis, and behind-the-scenes footage. Examples include channels from:
- NBA
- NFL
- MLB
- NHL
- NCAA
- FIFA
- NASCAR
- PGA Tour
- UEFA Champions League
Individual teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, and FC Barcelona also have Facebook Watch channels. You can get highlights of big plays moments after they happen or recap shows analyzing the latest games.
What are some examples of popular comedy series?
Some of the funniest comedians and comedy groups create exclusive content for Facebook Watch. Here are some popular comedy series:
- Kevin Hart’s Cold as Balls – Kevin Hart interviews celebrities while sitting in ice baths.
- Jo Koy’s In His Elements – Comedian Jo Koy explores different cities and cultures.
- Charlamagne Tha God’s Tha God’s Honest Truth – Charlamagne Tha God gives his take on social issues.
- Colin and Samir – Digital marketing experts Colin and Samir break down topics like social media algorithms.
- The Gamechangers – Produced by Dwayne Johnson, this prank show features celebrity guests playing over-the-top pranks.
- Whindersson Nunes Sees America – Brazilian YouTuber Whindersson Nunes visits and explores different parts of America.
In addition to full shows, many stand-up comedians share clips from their specials or performances.
What kinds of how-to and DIY videos can I find?
Facebook Watch has a huge variety of instructional DIY videos on topics like:
- Cooking recipes and techniques
- Beauty tips and tutorials
- Home improvement projects
- Arts and crafts
- Exercise and workout routines
- Automotive repair guides
- Gardening and landscaping ideas
- Pet care and training
Some popular DIY channels on Facebook Watch include Tasty, 5-Minute Crafts, HouseholdHacker, and The Pet Collective.
What gaming content is available?
Gaming is hugely popular on Facebook Watch. Some types of gaming content you can find include:
- Live streams of gamers playing popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Call of Duty
- Compilations of big wins and epic moments from streams
- Esports tournaments featuring professional gamers competing
- Gaming news and announcements about new games and consoles
- Tips and strategy guides for improving your skills
- Funny commentary and reactions while playing games
Some major gaming personalities and esports leagues with Facebook Watch channels include Ninja, PewDiePie, Roman Atwood, FaZe Clan, and ESL Gaming.
What animal videos can I find?
Videos featuring cute, funny, and amazing animals are hugely popular on Facebook Watch. Some examples include:
- Puppies and kittens doing silly things
- Close-ups of cute baby animals like piglets, ducklings, baby sloths
- Funny cats getting scared or surprised
- Dogs demonstrating tricks or competing in agility courses
- Clips of wild animals like elephants, giraffes, monkeys doing funny things
- Videos educating about different animal species and habitats
The Dodo and The Pet Collective are two popular channels focused on animals. Many zoos and animal sanctuaries also share videos of their animals on Facebook Watch.
What kinds of kids videos are there?
For children and families, you can find lots of entertaining and educational kids content on Facebook Watch, such as:
- CGI cartoons featuring popular characters like Talking Tom or kid influencers
- Life hack videos with crafts, science experiments, easy recipes for kids to try
- Singalongs and nursery rhymes
- Science explainers on topics like space, dinosaurs, animals
- How-to-draw videos teaching kids art techniques
- Physical education with exercise or dance routines for kids to follow
Some popular kids channels on Facebook Watch include CVS 3D Rhymes, Steve and Maggie, and Funny Mike TV.
How can I find videos from my favorite creators or publishers?
In addition to Facebook Watch’s browse and search features, an easy way to find videos from creators or publishers you like is to follow their Facebook Pages. Here are some tips:
- Search for the name of a creator or publisher and go to their Facebook Page
- Click “Follow” on their Page so that you get notified whenever they share new videos
- You can also browse the list of Pages you already follow and look for those that have Facebook Watch videos
- When watching a video you like, you can click on the creator’s name to check out their Page and see more of their videos
Following favorite Pages ensures you never miss new videos from creators and publishers you enjoy watching.
How does Facebook Watch compare to YouTube?
There are some key differences between Facebook Watch and YouTube:
| Facebook Watch | YouTube |
|---|---|
| More centered around personalities, creators, publishers | More open platform with a mix of professional and user-generated content |
| Videos tied to Facebook Pages and profiles | Channels are distinct from users’ social media profiles |
| More entertainment focused | Huge variety including how-to’s, vlogs, music, etc. |
| Videos underlayed by Facebook’s algorithms | YouTube’s recommendation algorithm surfaces videos |
| Can only be accessed through Facebook | Standalone website and apps make YouTube content more portable |
In general, Facebook Watch is focused more on professional short-form entertainment content tied to creators’ social media presence. YouTube has more user-generated content across all categories and its platform is not tied to a social network.
What are some pros and cons of Facebook Watch?
Pros:
- Wide variety of entertaining video content in one place
- Shows and videos tied to personalities people already follow on Facebook
- Videos recommended based on the Pages and people you already connect with
- Original and exclusive shows not available elsewhere
- Videos easy to share and discuss with friends on Facebook
Cons:
- Separate app makes it less convenient than main Facebook app
- Smaller library of videos compared to YouTube
- Fewer amateur and user-generated videos
- Facebook’s algorithmic feed deciding what you see, less choice
- Annoying ads, though less than YouTube
Overall, Facebook Watch is a great destination for shows, news, sports highlights, and videos from the creators you already follow. But YouTube still dominates for the massive variety of user-generated video content.
What tips and tricks help find the best videos?
Here are some tips for finding great videos to watch on Facebook Watch:
- Follow your favorite Pages so you never miss new videos
- Check out sections like Popular Videos, Recommended For You and Continue Watching
- Use Search when looking for something specific
- Look through categories like Gaming, News, Comedy, or Learning
- Give feedback like Reactions and Comments so the algorithm learns your tastes
- Enable notifications from Pages so you’re alerted to new videos
- Create a Watchlist to track shows and publishers you want to watch
- Use the Discover tab to find new Pages to follow
Taking advantage of Facebook Watch features makes it easy to stay on top of content from creators you love and find new videos you’ll enjoy.
Conclusion
Facebook Watch offers a uniquely social and personalized video watching experience focused on shows, creators, and publishers you already connect with on Facebook. While the selection doesn’t have the breadth of YouTube, Facebook Watch is the top destination for ad-supported, short-form entertainment from popular social media personalities. Following Pages, giving feedback, and using discovery features makes finding videos you love easy and enjoyable.