Disney+ to Launch TikTok-Style Vertical Video Feed Later This Year
Disney+ is poised to enter the short-form video arena, announcing plans to roll out a dedicated vertical video feed within its streaming app later in 2024. This move signals a significant shift in content strategy for the entertainment giant, mirroring the success of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, and building upon the foundation laid by its ESPN+ counterpart.
Adapting to the Mobile Video Landscape
The new feed will deliver personalized, bite-sized content directly to users’ mobile devices, allowing them to swipe through a curated selection of videos. According to Erin Teague, EVP of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, the content possibilities are vast. “It could be original short-form programming, repurposed social clips, refashioned scenes from longer-form episodic or feature titles, or a combination,” she stated. This flexible approach suggests Disney+ is exploring multiple avenues to populate the feed, leveraging existing assets and creating new, exclusive content.
This strategy isn’t entirely new territory for Disney. The company already operates a similar “verts” feed within ESPN Unlimited, launched last year. The Disney+ iteration will essentially replicate that functionality, but tailored to the broader Disney+ content library. What does this mean for the future of streaming? Is this a necessary evolution to capture the attention of increasingly mobile-first audiences?
Beyond the content feed, Disney is also empowering advertisers with a new video generation tool. This tool will enable brands to create high-quality, connect TV-ready commercials using their existing brand assets and guidelines, streamlining the advertising process and potentially attracting more ad revenue to the platform. This is a smart move, as advertising revenue becomes increasingly important in the competitive streaming landscape.
The announcement was made at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, highlighting the importance of innovation in the streaming industry. This launch is strategically timed to coincide with the upcoming integration of Disney+ and Hulu into a single app, promising a more unified and comprehensive streaming experience for subscribers. The combined app is expected to launch later this year, further solidifying Disney’s position in the market.
Disney’s move to embrace short-form video reflects a broader trend in the entertainment industry. Platforms like Netflix and YouTube are also investing heavily in short-form content, recognizing its appeal to younger audiences and its potential for driving user engagement. The Wrap provides further details on this announcement.
The integration of this new feature, alongside the Disney+ and Hulu merger, could significantly alter the streaming landscape. Will this be enough to compete with established short-form video giants? Dark Horizons originally reported on this development.
For more insights into the evolving world of streaming, consider exploring resources from Cord Cutters News and StreamingLeaks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disney+’s Vertical Video Feed
Yes, it’s designed to function similarly to platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, allowing users to swipe through a personalized feed of short videos.
Disney+ plans to roll out the vertical video feed in the U.S. later in 2024.
The Disney+ feed is modeled after the “verts” feed already available on ESPN Unlimited, but will feature content from the Disney+ library.
