So, epic social networking site Facebook has joined the content streaming bandwagon. Just like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and other Video-On-Demand (VOD) sites Facebook has decided to offer movies via their fan pages for their consumers. This means that companies like Netflix and Red Box will have some difficulties retaining their audiences (Netflix's stock has decreased 6% due to this news).
Facebook has decided to start slowly. They have begun with Nolan's THE
DARK KNIGHT as a guinea pig, selling the full film content for three Facebook credits (about $3.00). This means that after the transaction has occurred, within about 48 hours you will have access to the content. Facebook (and WB execs) think that if you create a habit of visiting Facebook anyways (like 600 million people do), why not have streaming content available to 1) keep you on Facebook longer, and 2) to gain more profit from what you already do (watch movies and visit Facebook).
If the results are deemed successful, then the content streaming abilities will be rolled out to other Warner Bros. films, and then since Hollywood works best on peer pressure, others are sure to follow. But the real question is if consumers will really want to watch films on Facebook. I think the jury is still out on that one, but my guess is that it will become wildly popular, further distancing Facebook from it's original purpose, connecting friends.
So, what do you think? Do you like that Facebook is offering streamed content online? Or is it too far out of Facebook's realm?
