Facebook is reportedly in talks to produce original TV-quality shows
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg onstage at the annual Facebook F8 developers conference in San Jose, California, on April 18. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Facebook Inc. is in talks with Hollywood studios about producing scripted, TV-quality shows, with an aim of launching original programming by late summer, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
In meetings with Hollywood talent agencies, the social-networking giant has indicated it is willing to commit to production budgets as high as $3 million an episode, The Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Facebook is hoping to target audiences ages 13 to 34, with a focus on the 17-to-30 range. The company has already lined up "Strangers," a relationship drama, and a game show, "Last State Standing," the report said.
Facebook could not be immediately reached for comment.
The company is expected to release episodes in a traditional manner, instead of dropping an entire season in one go like Netflix and Amazon, The Journal reported.
The company is also willing to share its viewership data with Hollywood, the report said.
Apple earlier this month hired the presidents of Sony Pictures Television, Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, to lead its video-programming efforts.
Apple began its long-awaited move into original television series last week with a reality show called "Planet of the Apps," an unscripted show about developers trying to interest celebrity mentors with a 60-second pitch on an escalator.
The company's future programming plans include an adaptation of comedian James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" segment from his CBS show that will begin airing in August.
(Reporting by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)
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