Live programming has finally come to Facebook. The social network began airing live television series on Monday starting with a talk show from the entertainment network E!
NBCUniversal's E! cable network is now using Facebook Live to broadcast its series Live From E!, which is shot using an iPhone 6S Plus. The 15- to 20-minute talk show premiered on Facebook on Monday, March 21, with new episodes planned to be released weekdays at 12:30 p.m. EDT. The show can also be viewed on the E! Online app, as well as on the network's website.
Live From E! first premiered online before airing on the network a year later. The talk show is hosted by Jason Kennedy, Maria Menounos, Ross Matthews, and a fourth rotating co-host, where the panel discusses pop culture news while asking viewers to engage using social media like Twitter.
The show has gotten a bit of a face-lift to better suit Facebook Live, which includes a new desk and 60-inch monitor so that viewers can see commentary or any B-roll shown in the same frame as the hosts to better fit the screen size on Facebook. Since Facebook Live allows users to write comments and ask questions and for the host to read and respond to them in real-time, this feature is front and center in the series.
"We are looking to expand our off-site video platform by leveraging the best and newest technology available in social," John Najarian, executive VP and GM of E! News and Digital, told Variety. "By innovating the 'Live From E!' series and simulcasting it on the Facebook Live platform, we will continue to bring our viewers the great breaking news content and topical discussions they have always loved about the franchise, while also not sacrificing engagement and production quality."
E!'s Facebook page has approximately 9 million people who like the page, and has received more than 55 million views for its Facebook videos.
This news comes after both Facebook and Twitter have made headlines trying to get their hands on the rights to stream live TV shows. Facebook is negotiating with the National Football League to be able to stream Thursday Night Football on its platform, as well as being in talks with a few other TV executives over the past weeks. That means we might expect to see more TV series launching on Facebook coming soon.
Source: Variety
