14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook's login standard slash “take over the world device" Connect scores another major victory with NBC announcing support for the feature across most of the TV network's online properties. The “login using Facebook” button has already started popping up on NBC sites and, while the standard has been very successful so far, the new partnership only stands to solidify the social network's increasing dominance in the market.
“This new integration will allow consumers to fully engage the social experience of television entertainment and increase online interaction around quality video content. With Facebook Connect, fans of all of the content featured on NBCU's individual digital sites will be able to see what videos are popular with their friends; encourage them to discover the latest hilarious SNL clip on NBC.com before it goes viral; interact with friends and fans as they watch streaming events during the Vancouver Winter Olympics,“ the TV network said in a statement.
A number of NBC sites have already implemented the feature with more being rolled out in the coming months. The network’s online properties include sites like USANetwork.com, AccessHollywood.com, iVillage.com, Syfy.com, Oxygen.com, NBCSports.com and the NBCOlympics.com site set up for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Local NBC sites also sport the new functionality.
NBC has been cozying up with Facebook lately, having just premiered the pilot to one of this season's most anticipated shows, Community, on the social network. A Facebook page has been set up and users wanting to preview the show have to become fans of the page to get access. The tactic does raise some issues but that hasn't stopped most fans from taking the opportunity to see the pilot before it airs.
Facebook Connect has been a huge success for the social network and, while it does give its users a nice way of accessing sites that support it with their Facebook account, it is a very important tool for the social network as it serves two main purposes. First, it keeps its users connected to the social network even when browsing other sites; second, it helps draw in new users to the site. This helps Facebook a great deal towards its ultimate goal, which, at the moment, seems to be turning into the center of all Internet activity for its users.