Yes, Facebook is desperate to promote and push it’s live streaming services. Live video was introduced back in December 2015. At first, it did fairly well. Then struggles came, and plenty of them.
Facebook even asks Hollywood celebrities to promote themselves on their live streaming services. They might even pay the rich and the famous to do so. Their COO, Sheryl Sandberg, is in LA pitching this idea to talent agencies. She’s looking for a handful of subjects (some believe it’s more like 100) to live stream regularly, and be paid modest amounts to do so. Eventually, this is supposed to generate more ad revenue for Facebook and the streamers through sponsors, sales and donations, sort of like how many You Tube stars get paid. Facebook doesn’t have ads to back up this live streaming…not yet. If successful, it could rise to that. But for now, Facebook hopes simple payment to live streamers will get the ball rolling. Payment could be in the six-figure range. That’s not modest at all for people like you and me, but these are celebrities we’re talking about here. And these don’t have to be A-List Oscar and Emmy winners either. Facebook could just as well go after B-Listers who know how to network social media.
Is Facebook trying to overtake You Tube? It looks like it. If they are going to use celebrities, they should use stars who could use the work. Frankly, I’m tired of A-listers having all the fun and glory and other good stars being left out in the cold. Plus, You Tube stars use Facebook for promotion all the time. Why not ask some of the most popular You Tube channel owners to help promote it and pay them to do so? Or should Facebook use a combination of everybody, including the not famous, to promote their live streaming services? Do you think Facebook ?live streaming will compare to You Tube?