Facebook has just announced “Watch”, a dedicated video platform on the social network. This will aid budding creators to post original video content and shows, with Facebook eventually looking to allow participation from everyone.

The Watch section will be visible directly from the Facebook app as a tab where you will find more options to discover new content. Since connecting with people is a big part of the Facebook experience, the company will let you interact with fellow viewers via comments and even join groups meant for a particular show.

Facebook wants this to span across a wide range of categories. In its announcement post, the company mentioned – “We think Watch will be home to a wide range of shows, from reality to comedy to live sports.”

Watch will have a shortlist option to help you watch shows from your favorite creators on the platform. You can filter videos by “Most Talked About”, “What’s Making People Laugh”, and “What Friends Are Watching”. Creators can also upload live videos or recorded content on Watch.

Back in July, Facebook’s plans to launch an original content platform was originally revealed. It was also speculated that the company will launch this platform in mid-August, and right on cue, the company has announced this new platform. It’s clear that Facebook has been planning this for quite some time now.

https://www.facebook.com/facebook/videos/10156285678786729/

Facebook is rolling out Watch to a handful of American users of the app. There’s no telling when or how this feature will be handled in other parts of the world. It is hoped that Facebook has a screening process in place to avoid the broadcasting of illegal or sensitive content.

It will be interesting to see how Watch will fare against services like Amazon, Netflix, and others. Although it might take some time for the service to pick up pace, this is certainly a start.