Add Meta to the list of digital media giants that are pivoting away from original programming. As the company formerly known as Facebook endures another round of layoffs, it is ending its current slate of Facebook Watch originals.
Facebook Watch became a thriving hub for both scripted and unscripted shows after the 2017 hire of MTV vet Mina Lefevre, who became Meta’s Head of Development and Programming. According to Deadline, Meta has let Lefevre go as part of a three-part round of layoffs that will ultimately affect more than 10,000 employees. Those cuts come on the heels of Meta’s November 2022 downsizing, when it let go of 11,000 workers.
During her six-year tenure at Meta, Lefevre helped assemble a varied programming library. The Facebook Watch lineup included some shows that came over from MTV, a number of creator-centric vehicles, and brand-new originals like Red Table Talk, which even earned Facebook a Daytime Emmy nomination.
Facebook Watch became a thriving hub for both scripted and unscripted shows after the 2017 hire of MTV vet Mina Lefevre, who became Meta’s Head of Development and Programming. According to Deadline, Meta has let Lefevre go as part of a three-part round of layoffs that will ultimately affect more than 10,000 employees. Those cuts come on the heels of Meta’s November 2022 downsizing, when it let go of 11,000 workers.
During her six-year tenure at Meta, Lefevre helped assemble a varied programming library. The Facebook Watch lineup included some shows that came over from MTV, a number of creator-centric vehicles, and brand-new originals like Red Table Talk, which even earned Facebook a Daytime Emmy nomination.
- 4/28/2023
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Exclusive: Mina Lefevre, who was Head of Development and Programming at Meta, is departing Facebook’s parent company.
Lefevre, who was formerly EVP and Head of Scripted at MTV, is exiting as part of the latest round of layoffs at the Mark Zuckerberg-run company, which has seen more than 20,000 employees leave.
The departure comes amid a pivot for Facebook, which already had scaled back its original programming efforts since the days of scripted series such as Elizabeth Olsen-fronted Sorry For Your Loss and Sacred Lies, shepherded by Lefevre.
None of the remaining Fb Watch Originals, most notably Red Table Talk, are coming back for new seasons as the company is getting out of that business, shifting its focus on creating VR experiences in Meta Horizon Worlds that can also be deployed across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Fb Watch remains as video player for such content, while members of Lefevre’s team,...
Lefevre, who was formerly EVP and Head of Scripted at MTV, is exiting as part of the latest round of layoffs at the Mark Zuckerberg-run company, which has seen more than 20,000 employees leave.
The departure comes amid a pivot for Facebook, which already had scaled back its original programming efforts since the days of scripted series such as Elizabeth Olsen-fronted Sorry For Your Loss and Sacred Lies, shepherded by Lefevre.
None of the remaining Fb Watch Originals, most notably Red Table Talk, are coming back for new seasons as the company is getting out of that business, shifting its focus on creating VR experiences in Meta Horizon Worlds that can also be deployed across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Fb Watch remains as video player for such content, while members of Lefevre’s team,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Peter White and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
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