Instagram TV App to Add Episodic Content, Live Streams & Long-Form Video
News Desk
23 June 2026, 10:55
Instagram is expanding its ambitions beyond short-form video, revealing plans to introduce longer-form content, episodic programming, and live creator experiences to its TV app as it looks to compete more directly with traditional streaming platforms.
The move signals Meta’s growing interest in turning Instagram into a destination for living-room entertainment, extending its reach beyond smartphones and into the television screen.
The company said it is exploring ways to bring long-form videos, multi-episode content series, and live broadcasts to the Instagram TV app. The announcement follows Meta’s recent testing of a new “Series” feature for Reels, designed to help users follow serialized content across Instagram and Facebook more easily.
Rather than focusing solely on short videos, Instagram appears to be positioning itself for a broader role in digital entertainment, potentially placing it in competition not only with TikTok and YouTube but also with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
As part of the expansion, Instagram’s TV app is also rolling out to Samsung smart TVs, adding to its existing availability on Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices.
The company is introducing several new features aimed at improving the television viewing experience. One of the most notable additions is Channels, which will organize content around users’ interests, favorite creators, and topics such as sports, comedy, and entertainment. Instagram says the feature is designed to make content discovery easier for shared viewing experiences.
Instagram is also testing a dedicated section for horizontal videos, a significant shift from the platform’s traditional vertical-video focus. The change reflects Meta’s effort to better adapt content for larger screens and create a viewing experience more aligned with conventional television consumption.
Another key addition is casting support, allowing users to send Reels and saved content directly from their phones to a television. The TV app is also expanding beyond Reels by adding support for Stories, enabling users to view content from other accounts on larger screens.
The updates suggest Meta sees television as the next frontier for creator content. As social platforms increasingly compete for viewing time, the distinction between social media apps and streaming services continues to blur.
While Instagram has not provided a timeline for the launch of longer-form shows, episodic programming, or live TV experiences, the company’s latest roadmap indicates that it is investing heavily in transforming its TV app into a more comprehensive entertainment platform.
