Facebook presents video platform Watch

Facebook presents Watch, its own video platform with which the company wants to compete with YouTube. Watch will be available as a tab in the app and on the website. The service is initially only available to a small group of people in the US.

The programs that can be viewed via Watch are specially made for Facebook’s video platform. They can be recorded programs or live broadcasts. Facebook gives users a personalized Watch page, with recommendations and shows watched by friends or groups the user follows. There will be categories like ‘Most Talked About’, ‘What’s Making People Laugh’ and ‘What Friends Are Watching’.

While watching a video, viewers can see reactions from others, as is now the case when watching a live video. Facebook lists some examples of American shows that will be shown on Watch: writer and life coach Gabby Bernstein is coming with a program where viewers can ask questions, Kitchen Little is a funny cooking show for children and Major League Baseball will broadcast a game every week. via Watch.

Facebook says Watch will initially be available to a select group of people in the US, but “soon” should get the page to more users. It is not yet clear when Watch will be available in the Benelux. Also making shows is initially only for a select number of users, later everyone should be given that opportunity.