Meta is unveiling a new communications feature for Facebook and Messenger – Broadcast Channels. Available soon, Broadcast Channels enable public figures, publishers, businesses, groups, and other entities to set up messaging channels to reach large audiences.
Broadcast Channels aim to provide a similar experience to Telegram channels or Twitter broadcasts. Creators can set up a Broadcast Channel and followers can subscribe to receive updates directly in their Messenger inbox or Facebook feed.
Once a user subscribes to a Broadcast Channel, they will get notifications whenever the broadcaster publishes a new update. Followers can also opt into email digests summarizing recent broadcasts. Unlike normal posts, Broadcast Channel updates will not get lost in the algorithmic feed. Followers are guaranteed to see new broadcasts in their notification feeds in real-time as they are published.
Broadcasters can post text, photos, videos, voice messages, links, and other multimedia content to their channels. But it only goes one way – followers consume the content but cannot comment or message the broadcaster through the Broadcast Channel.
For followers, subscribing to Broadcast Channels is akin to following a Twitter account to receive tweets in your timeline. You see every update from creators you follow in order. The key benefit of Broadcast Channels is the unlimited reach for broadcasting. Normal Messenger group conversations are limited to 250 participants and Facebook Pages have algorithmic reach limits.
Broadcast Channels remove these restrictions so public figures, publishers, businesses, communities, influencers and more can share updates directly with followers at scale. Meta notes Broadcast Channels are ideal for creators who want an unfiltered way to reach their audience. Followers will get notified every time you broadcast without algorithms deciding which users see the content.
Launching soon, Broadcast Channels open new avenues for organizations and individuals to engage audiences. Messaging is no longer limited to just private conversations but can also facilitate public broadcasts to subscribers.
