What is the name of Facebook's video-on-demand service launched in 2017?

Facebook's video-on-demand service launched in 2017 was Facebook Watch.

Facebook announced Watch on August 9, 2017, and began launching it for U.S. users the following day. The service organized video programming in a dedicated hub, combining recommendations with shows produced by publishers, creators, and Facebook-funded partners. It supported both short-form videos and longer television-style series.

Watch was part of Facebook's effort to compete for online video audiences alongside services such as YouTube and traditional television platforms. Original and partner programming included news, entertainment, drama, and talk formats. Facebook shared advertising revenue with participating content partners; its original arrangement gave partners 55 percent and Facebook 45 percent.

Facebook Watch is commonly confused with Facebook Live. Watch focused on recorded, on-demand programming, while Live was the platform's real-time broadcasting feature. Watch later became less prominent: its original-programming operation was shut down in 2023, and the Watch website ultimately redirected users toward Facebook Reels.