Facebook Wants a Turn at Original Video Too -- Barrons.com
6:02 pm ET May 24, 2017 (Dow Jones) Print
By Emily Bary
Just a few months ago, Facebook seemed to have little interest in original video, with executives saying that the company was mainly focused on user generated content and partner content.
The competitive landscape has changed since then, and so, it appears, has Facebook's video strategy. The company has reportedly inked a number of high-profile video deals with partners such as Buzzfeed and Vox, according to Reuters. The company's new video service will feature 20- to 30-minute scripted shows, which Facebook will own, as well as some shorter videos, both scripted and unscripted, which it won't own. And there will be ad breaks.
Lately, social-networking companies have been racing to come out with their own expansive original content packages. Twitter recently announced programming deals with Bloomberg, BuzzFeed, and the NFL, among others. And Snap has original content from E!, ESPN, and ABC's "The Bachelor." These companies are trying to figure out where to put all this video to make sure users can easily find it.
On Facebook's earnings call back in February, all analysts wanted to talk about was the company's video strategy. Original content gives Facebook one more place to serve ads, which is key, as the social network has been running out of places to put them on users' feeds.
The risk, of course, is that Facebook is entering a highly competitive space. Getting into original programming pits it directly against traditional TV networks, streaming services like Netflix, and the rest of its Internet peers that are dabbling in content. Facebook has been a big winner in video so far, but it remains to be seen whether the company will come out on top when it comes to original programming.
Big Picture: Facebook is entering the world of original video programming. It's an increasingly crowded space.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 24, 2017 18:02 ET (22:02 GMT)
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