Facebook announces launch of 'Watch' TV-streaming feature

Facebook has announced the launch of Watch, a new TV-streaming offering that will create a new rival to services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

The social media giant will be curating brand new shows for Watch, which users will be able to find in the new 'Watchlist' feature, where they will be able to access the latest episodes of their favourite shows and discover new series to watch.

In a blog announcing the new app, Facebook explained that viewers would have recommendations such as 'what's making people laugh' or 'what friends are watching', for example, with these based on people's online reactions to particular videos.

Facebook added: "We've learned from Facebook Live that people's comments and reactions to a video are often as much a part of the experience as the video itself. So when you watch a show, you can see the comments and connect with friends and other viewers while watching."