Prime Highlight
- Disney+ will introduce a short-form, vertical, scroll-style video feed in the United States this year to encourage users to open the app daily, not just for full-length shows or movies.
- The feature is designed to feel natural on mobile devices and targets younger audiences who favor quick, snackable content.
Key Facts
- The vertical video feed will include original short-form content, social media clips, and selected scenes from Disney films and TV shows, with mixed formats to keep it engaging.
- Disney announced the feature at its Tech + Data Showcase during CES 2026, building on lessons learned from a similar vertical video feed launched earlier on the ESPN app.
Background
Disney+ will launch short-form vertical videos in the United States this year, as the company steps up efforts to increase daily engagement on its streaming platform. Disney shared the plan during its Tech + Data Showcase at CES 2026.
The new feature will offer a scroll-style feed of quick videos, similar to formats popular on TikTok and Instagram Reels. According to Disney, the feed will grow across news and entertainment and will offer a more personal and dynamic experience for users. The company said the move will help make Disney+ a platform that people visit every day, not just when they want to watch a full movie or series.
Disney confirmed that the videos may include original short-form content, social media clips, and selected scenes from its films and TV shows. The company also said it may mix different formats to keep the feed fresh and engaging.
Erin Teague, Executive Vice President of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, said the company plans to design the feature in a way that matches how users already behave on their phones. She added that Disney wants the vertical video experience to feel natural and not like a random add-on.
The move follows Disney’s earlier launch of a personalised vertical video feed on the ESPN app last year. That feature helped the company test how users interact with quick, scrollable content.
Disney is clearly aiming at younger audiences who prefer short videos over long-form shows. Many viewers now spend more time on mobile apps that deliver fast, snackable content, and Disney wants to meet them where they already are.
Disney+ is not the first streaming service to take this step. Netflix introduced a similar vertical video feed last year, allowing users to browse clips from its original titles.
With this launch, Disney hopes to strengthen its position in a highly competitive streaming market by turning Disney+ into a daily entertainment destination.
