Over the past two years, Facebook has expanded its online video platform. From being virtually nonexistent, Facebook Videos has won over 15 percent of the most viewed online videos last year.
These recent months, the social media giant is in talks with major music licensing companies. Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group are reportedly in the process of ongoing negotiations with Facebook.
Neither the music labels nor the social networking site have hinted on what have been discussed so far. Speculations point to a music video licensing and security feature for Facebook.
The social company may be looking into giving the labels more control over their music videos online, with the use of its video platform. If this were true, then spectators may be looking to see channels and content IDs on Facebook Videos.
Content ID features and channels can possibly be a Facebook equivalent to Vevo, Youtube's channel for music artists. Individual artists have their own Vevo, where official music videos are released on the Google-owned online video platform.
This may point to Facebook following Youtube's route even more. Last week, Facebook has announced the monetization of videos. Creators of videos uploaded on the site will get 55 percent of the videos' revenues. The same split ratio has applied to Youtube since 2013.
Youtube's Robert Kyncl has commented regarding Facebook's plunge into online video territory. (Though increasingly watched, videos on Facebook rely largely on likes and shares to get more views. Being a social network with 1.44 billion active users in the world, garnering views is convenient on Facebook.)
The result of the negotiations with major music labels may spell big changes for its video platform. Reports predict a more mobile-centered platform with Facebook's trademark features included.
Facebook Videos channels which can be liked, shared and even uploaded, instantly? Why not?
Netizens continue to speculate...and wait.
