Disney is set to shake up its streaming service, Disney+, by emulating the popular short-form vertical videos found on TikTok. The company plans to roll out this format across all content on the platform in the US later this year.
According to Erin Teague, executive vice president of product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, mobile is a key opportunity for the streaming service. She aims to introduce users to "vertical video experiences" that offer all the short-form Disney content they'd want in one unified app.
Teague explained that over time, the experience will evolve as Disney+ explores various formats, categories, and content types, allowing users to create a dynamic feed tailored to their interests. The company wants to meet younger audiences where they are – namely on mobile devices, with shorter attention spans than ever before.
The move is part of Disney's strategy to boost daily engagement on the platform, as streaming services increasingly rely on advertising revenue growth. By incorporating short-form video, Disney hopes to encourage users to show up more often and stick around longer. This approach has already been adopted by rivals such as Meta (Instagram Reels) and YouTube (Shorts), who have seen the success of TikTok's daily habit-forming model.
Netflix has also experimented with similar short-form video features, using them primarily to promote its long-form content. However, Disney is treating its short-form content as an integral part of the overall Disney+ experience, rather than just a preview for longer shows or movies.
As Teague noted, "This is what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are expecting." By embracing vertical videos, Disney aims to stay ahead in the competitive streaming landscape and provide users with a more personalized and dynamic experience.
According to Erin Teague, executive vice president of product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, mobile is a key opportunity for the streaming service. She aims to introduce users to "vertical video experiences" that offer all the short-form Disney content they'd want in one unified app.
Teague explained that over time, the experience will evolve as Disney+ explores various formats, categories, and content types, allowing users to create a dynamic feed tailored to their interests. The company wants to meet younger audiences where they are – namely on mobile devices, with shorter attention spans than ever before.
The move is part of Disney's strategy to boost daily engagement on the platform, as streaming services increasingly rely on advertising revenue growth. By incorporating short-form video, Disney hopes to encourage users to show up more often and stick around longer. This approach has already been adopted by rivals such as Meta (Instagram Reels) and YouTube (Shorts), who have seen the success of TikTok's daily habit-forming model.
Netflix has also experimented with similar short-form video features, using them primarily to promote its long-form content. However, Disney is treating its short-form content as an integral part of the overall Disney+ experience, rather than just a preview for longer shows or movies.
As Teague noted, "This is what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are expecting." By embracing vertical videos, Disney aims to stay ahead in the competitive streaming landscape and provide users with a more personalized and dynamic experience.
, but I'm also not sure how well it's gonna work out... They're basically copying TikTok's formula, which has worked for them so far, but what if it doesn't translate to a platform like Disney+ that already has a huge library of content? I mean, we all know how easy it is to get bored or distracted on streaming services, and adding short-form videos might just make the whole experience feel more overwhelming. That being said, it's great to see them trying new things and catering to younger audiences 
... but let's hope they don't sacrifice the quality of their content in the process 
On one hand, it could make the app super fun to use, especially if they let users curate their own feed like on TikTok. But on the other hand, I worry it might just be a bunch of noise... a never-ending scroll of vids that's hard to sit through.
In any case, I think it'll be interesting to see how this plays out!
so i gotta say, this move by disney+ is gonna be HUGE! 
they're finally catching on to what's hot on tiktok and giving us a reason to keep coming back for more. it's all about meeting the younger crowd where they are - on their phones with shorter attention spans. i'm low-key hoping they don't overdo it tho, we don't wanna be bombarded with too many ads 
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can't wait to see how this plays out! 
. I mean, think about it, when was the last time you spent hours binge-watching a show or movie without getting bored out of your wits? Short attention span, that's what they want us to have 
. And now they're trying to sell us on this vertical video format like it's the next big thing 
. I'm not buying it, but hey, if you want to be part of their experiment, go ahead and give it a try... just don't say I didn't warn you 
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! Like, TikTok has been killing it on short-form vids and I'm all about it 
. Disney+ needs to step up its mobile game if they wanna compete with Netflix and Hulu 
. Gen Z and Alpha are already glued to their screens on the go, so why not cater to that? It's all about creating a dynamic feed that shows users what they're into, you know? And let's be real, it's about boosting engagement and ad revenue growth 
. I'm curious to see how Disney+ is gonna make this work, but if anyone can do it, they're the ones with the magic 
!
. And don't even get me started on how I'll feel when my feed gets flooded with those TikTok-style videos... at the same time, I kinda want to see more of them! 
and i gotta say, i'm all for gen z & alpha getting a personalized experience - its about time we get some new features 
. let's see how this shakes out later this year 
I think this is a total game-changer for Disney+! They're finally listening to what young people want, which is bite-sized content that's easy to consume on-the-go. I mean, have you tried scrolling through TikTok? It's all about those short-form vids, and if Disney can make them work for its own platform... 
I'm low-key excited to see how this plays out. Maybe we'll finally have a streaming service that's as fun and engaging as TikTok itself! 
just gotta make sure they don't turn their app into some crazy endless scroll fest where u get lost in it lol imagine tryin to find ur favorite show or movie amidst all the short vids... anyway, its neat that they're listenin to what young ppl want. i've been thinkin about this a lot since disney+ launched and how they can make it more engaging for us old folks too 
. But will they be able to avoid feeling like they're just rehashing what's already available on other platforms? And how will they balance short-form vids with all the great long-form content they've got? Only time'll tell, but I'm excited to see how this plays out! 
& it makes sense 4 them 2 try it out cuz they already r doing it w/ meta & youtube... but i think disney's got a better shot @ it cuz dey r actually treatin' it like a part of their whole service 
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