Facebook Rolls Out Video-Streaming Service To Compete With Rivals

Last year Facebook launched a video streaming service called Watch to compete with YouTube but it was for the United States alone, now (over a year later) Facebook has rolled out the feature globally for everyone.

Watch is very similar to YouTube as it will allow users watch video contents from other creators and also original contents from Facebook itself.

The video platform will also show episodes with a storyline. Not only that, users will be able to subscribe to channels just like YouTube and choose from a range of shows – from both established brands and new players – and have the ability to view clips saved from their News Feeds.

The social media giant Facebook will allow all content makers to feature adverts on their channels depending on their level of traffic and the revenue will be split between the creators and Facebook — 55% to the creators and 45% to Facebook.

Watch is coming to compete with established video streaming services like YouTube, cable TV channels and even online video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Video BBC iPlayer, and Facebook’s own Instagram TV. Most people in America has never even heard about this new service since it was launched in the USA last year.
Facebook claims that its advantage against other platforms is the ways Watch helps viewers interact with others.

According to Fidji Simo, Facebook’s vice-president of video, “It is built on the notion that watching video doesn’t have to be a passive experience,” .
“You can have a two-way conversation about the content with friends, other fans or even the creators themselves.”
She added that a Watch Party feature lets users co-ordinate themselves to watch a show together, while an Interactivity Platform allows creators to run polls, challenges and quizzes to boost engagement.