Final Shots: Facebook Plans To Stream Original TV Content Starting Next Month

Facebook is reportedly planning to stream original TV content starting next month. The social media platform will target teen-centric content to compete with Snapchat, with around two dozen shows currently scheduled for launch.

According to Business Insider, the social network will produce two types of shows: longer, big budget shows similar in structure to content from competitors like Netflix; and less expensive, shorter shows of about five to 10 minutes, that would refresh every 24 hours. Most of the platform’s new content will follow an ad-supported model, which will further shift ad spending from traditional television to digital media. At go live, users will be able to stream the brand new video content on their TV’s through Facebook‘s standalone video apps for Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and more.

In other news…

Showtime is reportedly close to ordering Ben Stiller’s Escape At Clinton Correctional, which would potentially star Benicio del Toro and Patricia Arquette. Stiller is set as an executive producer and is expected to direct all eight episodes of the series. [Deadline]

Tubi TV has more than doubled its total funding by raising $20 million from investors for its ad-supported streaming service. The platform’s financial backers support the platform’s successful model of providing free, premium movies and TV shows at the mere cost of watching a few commercials. [The Wall Street Journal]

Amazon is sponsoring a number of intimate concerts in the UK this summer, tickets for which are only available to Prime subscribers. The platform will also record each concert and make them available through Prime Video as part of a brand new Prime Live Events series. [Business Insider]

Netflix has released the official trailer for Tracy Morgan’s new stand-up comedy special Staying Alive. The one-hour original feature, during which the comedian tackles everything from his family’s eccentricities to being in a coma and talking to God, premieres Tuesday, May 16:

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor