Facebook Plans to Start Buying Original Video Content

Facebook is planning to buy its own original video content, the company said on Wednesday.

Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform is in discussions with video producers, looking to license and fund original programming for its dedicated video tab, rolled out earlier this year.

The effort is being led by Head of Global Creative Strategy Ricky Van Veen, the former IAC executive and CollegeHumor co-founder who joined Facebook in June and was tasked with linking the social network with media companies looking to distribute their videos.

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Talks are still in the early stages, and the company has not yet specified which producers it will partner with beyond saying that content will include scripted, unscripted and sports content specifically tailored to the platform and mobile-first viewing.

“Our goal is to kick-start an ecosystem of partner content for the tab,” Van Veen said in a statement. “So we’re exploring funding some seed video content, including original and licensed scripted, unscripted and sports content, that takes advantage of mobile and the social interaction unique to Facebook. Our goal is to show people what is possible on the platform and learn as we continue to work with video partners around the world.”

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The effort builds on a previous initiative in which Facebook paid media companies including Buzzfeed, CNN and The New York Times to produce videos for its live-streaming platform.