Facebook has announced a new platform for video shows, called Watch. It will initially be launched to a limited group in the United States before a wider rollout to a potential user base of 2 billion people. It may be rather late in taking on YouTube but its regular reach could offer producers an attractive audience.

“We believe it’s possible to rethink a lot of experiences through the lens of building community — including watching video,” founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on Facebook. “Watching a show doesn’t have to be passive. It can be a chance to share an experience and bring people together who care about the same things.”

“We hope Watch will be home to a wide range of shows — from reality to comedy to live sports,” he wrote. “Some will be made by professional creators, and others from regular people in our community.”

Facebook already has videos in its news feed and added a dedicated video tab in the United States, which will be replaced with Watch…[continue reading]