Facebook Reportedly Offering Hollywood Studios Millions To Produce Original Shows
Streaming providers such as Netflix and Hulu have both done pretty well with original programming. Each one has their gems—Strangers and Narcos are two that come immediately to mind for the former, while Quick Draw and Difficult People are hits for the latter. Seeing the success that others are having, it now appears that Facebook is interested in getting in on the action.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the social networking site is currently in talks with Hollywood studios and agencies about the possibility of producing original television shows that would launch by the end of summer. It is said that Facebook would be willing to invest up to $3 million per episode, which is in line with the production budget for high-end cable TV shows.
Facebook would also be willing to back less costly scripted shows, ones that would cost the social networking firm somewhere in the mid-to-high six figures per episode. In those cases, Facebook would be ultra-aggressive in pushing to own as much of the content as possible.
The appeal for content creators is ad revenue from Facebook's potentially massive audience. Facebook is said to be guaranteeing a minimum of $5,000 to $20,000 of ad revenue per episode. That could add up in a hurry over the course of a full season's worth of episodes.
Facebook is looking to target audiences who are between 13 and 34 years old, with even great focus on the viewers in the 17-year-old to 30-year-old range. In keeping things relatively family friendly, Facebook would also look to avoid politics, news, nudity, and foul language.
There are two shows that Facebook already has lined up. One is Strangers, a relationship drama targeting the millennial crowd (it made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival), and a game show called Last State Standing.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the social networking site is currently in talks with Hollywood studios and agencies about the possibility of producing original television shows that would launch by the end of summer. It is said that Facebook would be willing to invest up to $3 million per episode, which is in line with the production budget for high-end cable TV shows.
Facebook would also be willing to back less costly scripted shows, ones that would cost the social networking firm somewhere in the mid-to-high six figures per episode. In those cases, Facebook would be ultra-aggressive in pushing to own as much of the content as possible.
The appeal for content creators is ad revenue from Facebook's potentially massive audience. Facebook is said to be guaranteeing a minimum of $5,000 to $20,000 of ad revenue per episode. That could add up in a hurry over the course of a full season's worth of episodes.
Facebook is looking to target audiences who are between 13 and 34 years old, with even great focus on the viewers in the 17-year-old to 30-year-old range. In keeping things relatively family friendly, Facebook would also look to avoid politics, news, nudity, and foul language.
There are two shows that Facebook already has lined up. One is Strangers, a relationship drama targeting the millennial crowd (it made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival), and a game show called Last State Standing.
