The booth will play a role in reaching the show’s 5.1 million Facebook fans by broadcasting footage filmed by iPhone and posting it to the show’s Facebook page. Carson Daly, Today‘s social media reporter, fittingly broke in the booth by answering a variety of questions. Not surprisingly, he highlighted the new booth in his video. “I think since I’ve been here, which is almost two years now, there’s been such an emphasis on social media,” he said, then added that he has enjoyed being able to “give small input into ways to tap into technology.”
With interviews like Daly’s, the show hopes to encourage fans to watch more Today.com and NBC content, according executive producer of digital Ashley Parrish, plus engage in real-time Q&A. “The goal is to pull back the curtain between us and our social audience,” she told Variety. “Our guests can go in and talk directly to our Facebook audience … This is an opportunity to create digital-exclusive content with celebrities.”
Pro wrestler John Cena got to try out the Facebook Live Video booth during his visit today, plus hang out in the Instagram Mini Room, which is a scaled-down version of the Today anchor desk. He tweeted a picture of himself at the desk, showing just how tiny it really is.
Thank you @TODAYshow for the new office! It’s…quaint, and cozy. #smallstartbigfinish pic.twitter.com/C3g6wVcib1
— John Cena (@JohnCena) March 30, 2016
Both the Facebook Live Video booth and the Instagram Mini Room serve as examples of how media outlets are looking to engage with viewers over social media, as well as Facebook Live’s efforts to bring more celebrity content to users. Overall, it seems like a win on both sides.
