Facebook is in talks with major Hollywood agencies as it looks to launch original programming by the end of the summer.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the social networking platform is talking to major talent agencies including Creative Artists Agency, United Talent Agency, William Morris Endeavor and ICM Partners; the WSJ suggests Facebook has indicated it is willing to commit to production budgets as high as $3 million per episode.
The scripted shows on Facebook are expected to run no more than 30 minutes and will carry adverts.
Facebook also is seeking short-form content, primarily unscripted, that could run for 10 minutes in its Spotlight section.
It hopes to target audiences from ages 13 to 34, with a particular focus on the 17-to-30 range.
In a statement, Facebook’s vice president of media partnerships Nick Grudin said, “We’re supporting a small group of partners and creators as they experiment with the kinds of shows you can build a community around—from sports to comedy to reality to gaming. We’re focused on episodic shows and helping all our partners understand what works across different verticals and topics.”
