The Slate

Recently, Facebook partnered with TV networks like CNN and celebrities like Lucy Hale as a means to further their expansion in the entertainment world. While social media sites like Twitter and Instagram can sometimes be seen as a distraction from TV viewing, they’ve actually done quite the opposite and brought audiences together on platforms to discuss the latest shows. People love to update and post statuses about their feelings on what they’ve just seen. “Facebook is word of mouth at scale,” says Dan Rose, Facebook’s VP of Partnerships, during a keynote at Mipcom, a TV and entertainment market held once a year in Cannes, France. 

There are some tips Rose shared with his audience at Mipcom on how TV companies should use Facebook if they want to reach a greater population. First, he says companies should learn to engage with viewers through conversations on Facebook. Possibilities are endless now that Facebook has incorporated “Hashtags” to their toolbox. Second, celebrities should talk with their fans over the social media site. That’s exactly what Lucy Hale of ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars” did before her big day co-hosting the 2013 MTV VMA’s on August 25th. She had a Q&A session on Facebook and uploaded numerous photos and videos to Instagram, which is also owned by Facebook. On Oct. 13th, Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani education activist, had a segment on CNN titled “The Bravest Girl in the World”. CNN utilized both Facebook and Instagram by creating the hashtag #AskMalalaCNN, which viewers could tag to their Instagram videos with questions for Malala.

With these partnerships and potentially many more to come, Facebook and television companies could combine their businesses and reach audiences far beyond what they would have previously. This could turn more people onto certain programs they’ve never watched before and also means audiences will have access to exclusives from their favorite TV shows and actors. The more incentives viewers are given and able to feel like they’re directly involved with the show and actors, the greater chance they are going to watch.