Facebook moves toward funding original scripted shows
You could start seeing original shows on Facebook.
Mashable confirmed the tech giant is working on funding its own entertainment content.
The company, which has spent the bulk of 2016 promoting and pushing Facebook Live, hopes to "kickstart" content for its recently created video tab, Facebook Head of Global Creative Strategy Ricky Van Veen said in a statement.
“Earlier this year, we started rolling out the Video tab, a dedicated place for video on Facebook," the co-founder of College Humor and former IAC executive said. "Our goal is to kickstart an ecosystem of partner content for the tab, so we're exploring funding some seed video content, including original and licensed scripted, unscripted, and sports content, that takes advantage of mobile and the social interaction unique to Facebook. Our goal is to show people what is possible on the platform and learn as we continue to work with video partners around the world."
The news, which Re-code first reported Wednesday, comes as more platforms -- including Facebook's competitors Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube -- continue beefing up their original programming.
Facebook has previously tried to license content, including a proposed deal with the NFL (which went with Twitter instead).
But a rep for Facebook said the company is still in its early phases of planning the video expansion and has just started talks with various potential partners.
Topics Facebook
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
