How Facebook’s New Changes Could Impact TV
Last week Mark Zuckerberg announced a ground-breaking overhaul to Facebook that positions the brand as a key player in the media space. While a lot of the buzz so far has centered around music, TV will also feel the impact of the new changes. Already, key players like Netflix, TiVo and Hulu are amongst the first to sign up for Facebook’s richer media enhancements. These operators see huge potential in Facebook’s new media-rich features, with Netflix hoping to see an uptick in long-tail video consumption.
For the TV space, the new version of Facebook’s Open Graph is a key announcement. The Open Graph now features "a new class of social apps", allowing users to watch TV shows, movies and listen to music without leaving Facebook. Companies will then be able to tap into branches of the Open Graph, picking what kinds of activities users should be sharing with others. The function is enabled through partnerships with media providers such as Hulu, Netflix and Spotify.
Zuckerberg explained that up until now, this strategy has worked well for naturally social applications like games and communication tools, but that other things like media and personal activities have been harder to integrate.
On the back of the new Open Graph, Hulu has launched a brand new Facebook app, which helps make the Hulu experience more social. The Hulu app let consumers watch Hulu’s content directly within Facebook. This simplifies sharing what you watch and chat about what they’re watching in real-time. Techcrunch highlights the fact that you can also leave comments in real-time on particular moments in the video, adding a whole new layer of interactivity.
Another important development for TV is Facebook’s Live Ticker that puts it in direct competition with Twitter. Facebook’s Live Ticker creates a real-time stream of user activity that is offered in the homepage, and helps viewers share things like what videos they are watching, and what shows they recommend.
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