Earlier this year, social media giant, Facebook released fantastic updates to its social platform, Facebook Market place.
An update that enables business owners to showcase their product catalogs on Facebook quite similar to Google store, and also the Instagram new feature that allows two people share a live stream from a different device.
The release of these features could be due to users’ request, or maybe the company just decided that it might just be of help to both Facebook and Instagram users, but that is not the talk for today.
The new release that captures my attention most is the Facebook Watch, which is going to house various videos on Facebook.
According to pulse.ng, Facebook Watch is going to be rolled out in the form of Tab for easier reach, and people can easily access videos of varying lengths, including scripted series, live shows that feature host responding in real time to user questions and major league basketball games and other sports’ event.
This is greatly going to be a challenge for the second largest search engine and the world no one video platform YouTube. Facebook is widely adopted in Africa, with over 146 million monthly user base, this is quite huge, and I think this figure can help us to predict the reach of videos on Watch moderately.
On a more serious note, the invention of Facebook Watch has poised a treat for other videos sharing platform in the likes of YouTube, Vimeo and even traditional TV channels, knowing fully well that Facebook has the number regarding user base. I’ve iterated how I think Facebook might disrupt YouTube.
1. Quicker Access to Videos: Since watch will be integrated with Facebook, it will be straightforward to access videos, users are not directed outside of Facebook to look at a video, but will be able to preview and watch video right from the Watch tab on Facebook.
This just means that all Facebook user will be able to access the watch tab once it’s pushed out officially.
2. Attract more Video Publishers: Even before the talk of the watch on Facebook, publishers have been uploading short eye popular videos on Facebook which have tasted higher interaction compared to corresponding text and image posts.
So with the Facebook Watch, this means more publishers, and video creators will fully utilize Watch to engage their audience.
3. More Advertisers: Watch will attract more publishers, this would be a turning point for advertisers. More opportunity to interact with these prospects and eventually more money for a business that can position their brand at the right time.
If finally, Facebook starts accepting display ads on video that means advertisers will have to bid to show ads on videos. And that’s more revenue for Facebook.
Facebook has seemed to pose more win benefits with the launch of Watch, although YouTube has been coming out fierce-fully these days.
With the launch of YouTube Go by Google Nigeria, users in Africa with slow internet access will be able to preview and save videos to watch offline.
This YouTube feature is important too, especially in underdeveloped continent where internet penetration is still underway, but until when Watch is officially rolled out to Africa we can then say if Facebook is getting it right or wrong.