As part of a larger push to work closer with broadcasters, Facebook is rolling out a number of new features to help broadcasters and programmers better engage audiences.
These include a new voting and polling API, hashtag voting, native polling features, a video and photo submission capabilities, video and photo galleries and custom icons.
A number of the technologies, including the video and photo submission capabilities were created in partnership with Telescope.
Telescope is also the first company to adopt the new Hashtag Voting API.
Several of a tools have already been tested by such programmers as HBO, Fox News and others but they were officially rolled out on October 6th and were being demoed this week at the MIPCOM programming market in Cannes, France.
The video and photo submission tool, for example, was used in the Fox News/Facebook Aug. 6 GOP debate to handle more than 40,000 video questions that were submitted by the public.
The new tools add onto an extensive development effort by Facebook to make it easier for broadcasters to integrate into their platform and use it to interact and engage with their audience.
Read more at B&C.
