If leading Facebook Watch, how would you decide between releasing an entire series at once or weekly episodes?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether to release an entire series at once or opt for weekly episodes on Facebook Watch. This decision is crucial for user engagement, content strategy, and platform growth. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering user behavior, content creator needs, and Facebook's business objectives.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Facebook Watch is still in a growth phase. Is that correct, or has it reached maturity in terms of user adoption?

Why it matters: Growth stage impacts our willingness to experiment and take risks. Expected answer: Still growing, but with a substantial user base. Impact on approach: If growing, we might lean towards more experimentation.

• Business Context: How does Watch contribute to Facebook's overall revenue model? Is it primarily through ads, or are there other monetization strategies?

Why it matters: Aligns our decision with revenue goals. Expected answer: Primarily ad-based, with potential for subscription models. Impact on approach: Ad-based model might favor weekly releases for sustained engagement.

• User Impact: Do we have data on user preferences for binge-watching vs. weekly viewing on Watch?

Why it matters: Helps tailor our strategy to user behavior. Expected answer: Mixed preferences, skewing towards binge-watching. Impact on approach: Might consider a hybrid release model.

• Technical: Are there any bandwidth or server load concerns with releasing entire series at once?

Why it matters: Ensures we can deliver a smooth user experience. Expected answer: Some concerns during peak times, but manageable. Impact on approach: Might influence timing of full series releases.

• Resource: What's our current capacity for producing and acquiring content? Are we constrained or have a surplus?

Why it matters: Affects our ability to maintain a consistent content pipeline. Expected answer: Growing, but still limited compared to major streaming competitors. Impact on approach: Weekly releases might help manage limited content more effectively.