“We’re focusing more on shorter form content to start” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on today’s Q4 earnings call , where he was repeatedly questioned about Facebook’s video strategy. One thing’s clear, Facebook will invest heavily. “I see video as a mega trend,” said Zuckerberg.
Facebook will both pay video makers up front and through ad revenue sharing to get their content into its News Feed and video tab. Despite reports that it’s been in talks with TV studios and is building a set-top TV box , Facebook isn’t going to immediately dive into funding a ton of TV shows and movies. Zuckerberg noted, “Over the longer term…people will experiment with longer forms of video as well as all kinds of different things.” But quick, snackable clips are “the primary focus for the foreseeable future.”
Essentially, Facebook is more interested in the YouTube model of collecting tons of quick video clips than investing in long-form shows or films like Netflix.
Facebook’s CFO David Wehner said “our focus was on kickstarting the ecosystem here for the video tab…We’re looking at a wide range of content.” To do that, it plans to pay up-front for “seed content,” which will start to draw more viewers to its video offering and make it an established home for premium clips.
