Facebook TV reportedly debuting in mid-August

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The curtains will be lifted on Facebook TV in mid-August, people familiar with the matter have told US media. Some TV partners have reportedly been asked to submit the first episodes of their "spotlight" shows, which are expected to be five- to 10-minute long.

Meanwhile, Facebook is planning to fund some high-end full-length TV shows and launch them later on its website, the insiders noted.

Those longer format shows will reportedly be launched in a separate new section, from which Facebook is expected to get a greater share of TV advertising revenues.

Facebook will reportedly debut its first Facebook TV episodes this August. /VCG Photo

Facebook was initially ready to start the project about a month ago, but it has taken longer than anticipated.

Further delays "may still occur," said the insiders, adding that Facebook will offer a mix of scripted and user-generated TV content in the upcoming new section.

Facebook reportedly has no plans to directly compete with online content creators like Netflix and HBO, said the people, but it aims to "make something higher-end than Google’s YouTube".

Facebook is yet to officially comment on the news.