Facebook and Google's YouTube unit are eyeing the streaming video turf carved out by Netflix and Amazon.com, offering films online that users can discuss.
Facebook and Google's YouTube unit last week served notice to streaming
video powers Netflix and Amazon.com that they have taken a serious interest in
the intersection of the Internet and films.
Facebook shocked the tech world March 8 when it
announced in conjunction with Warner Bros. that it will begin
offering some movies for purchase or rental through Warner Bros. Facebook movie
Pages.
Consumers will be able to pay 30 Facebook Credits, equivalent to $3, for a
48-hour rental to watch "The Dark Knight" through an app the studio
has built for the site.
Consumers may watch the film in full screen, pause it and resume playing
when they log back into Facebook. Movie lovers may also post comments on the
movie, interact with friends and update their status-the usual Facebook
activities.
Within 11 hours of being posted, 1,914 people
liked the idea of watching "The Dark Knight" on
Facebook. When eWEEK asked Facebook what its goal is with the experiment, which
will include more film titles, a spokesperson said:
"Right now, more than 400 games and applications use Facebook Credits
to give people a convenient and safe way to buy virtual and digital goods on
Facebook. We're open to developers and partners that want to experiment using
Credits in new and interesting ways, and we look forward to seeing what they
come up with."
True perhaps, but there is another play here. Facebook, like Google and so
many other Internet giants, is looking to find a larger outlet for its social
advertising products. TV naturally provides another ad targeting path for its
600 million-plus users.
Facebook is joining Google's YouTube unit in aggressively pursuing the Web
video market in 2011. Google launched Google TV, which offers streaming video
applications from Netflix and Amazon, in 2010 with an eye toward reaching
millions of TV fans with ads.
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