Facebook Watch, the social media company’s streaming service, will roll out globally a year after it launched in the US.
Facebook has been increasingly active in the sports media-rights market in the past three months, acquiring rights to: the English Premier League in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam; Spanish LaLiga in the Indian subcontinent; and Uefa Champions League in Latin America and Brazil.
Variety reports Facebook is set to spend between $1bn and $2bn on content for Facebook Watch over the next year.
Alongside the streaming service, Facebook will also expand its Ad Breaks program globally, with it set to launch today (August 30) in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. Further roll-outs are expected in September. This will allow Facebook partners to further monetise their content.