Instagram announces IGTV, a hub for long-format videos

[Shawn Knight]

Why it matters: YouTube is still the biggest draw in the industry but with other social platforms like Instagram invading their territory, its grip on the market could be in jeopardy.

Instagram at a flashy media event in San Francisco on Wednesday unveiled IGTV, a standalone app designed for long-format video consumption.

Also accessible through a tap in the main Instagram app, IGTV will allow for video uploads of up to one hour in length (versus the current limit of just one minute). Footage is intended to be shot and displayed vertically and videos will begin playing the moment the app is opened, no searching needed.

While initially being pushed as a way for fans to consume videos from big-name content creators and celebrities, the IGTV hub will allow anyone to upload and share videos on the platform.

Instagram on Wednesday also announced that it has surpassed the one billion monthly active user mark, a significant achievement considering the photo-sharing app had just 40 million monthly active users when it was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion.

IGTV could be a major boon for Instagram and is seemingly arriving at precisely the right time. Cable and satellite television subscriptions are way down as many younger people are moving away from pay TV or avoiding it altogether from the get-go in favor of streaming and mobile-first experiences.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/75178-instagram-announces-igtv-hub-long-format-videos.html

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Ugh... I hate vertical videos. Terrible viewing experience on a desktop computer and even some laptops. This was all started by newbies using their iPhones to record video, which back in the day because everything was portrait mode and didn't support landscape mode people none-the-wiser would record vertical video. Makes me want to punch them in the throat.

 

[Mister_K]

Ugh... I hate vertical videos. Terrible viewing experience on a desktop computer and even some laptops. This was all started by newbies using their iPhones to record video, which back in the day because everything was portrait mode and didn't support landscape mode people none-the-wiser would record vertical video. Makes me want to punch them in the throat.

But desktop and laptop is small portion of the web content consumption, everything is mobile in 21st century, hence why everything prioritizes mobile over desktop.

 

[erickmendes]

Ugh... I hate vertical videos. Terrible viewing experience on a desktop computer and even some laptops. This was all started by newbies using their iPhones to record video, which back in the day because everything was portrait mode and didn't support landscape mode people none-the-wiser would record vertical video. Makes me want to punch them in the throat.

With smarttv apps, IG could land IGTV on TVs, and start promoting 21:9 content. With this step, they only need to let the mobile app also work on horizontal orientation with these videos. Done, solved your complains.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

But desktop and laptop is small portion of the web content consumption, everything is mobile in 21st century, hence why everything prioritizes mobile over desktop.

Ugh... unfortunately you are right. I just don't get it. I HATE media consumption on a phone or tablet, the screen is just too damn small. I don't understand why so many people like it. Seems everyone is more reliant on the idea of media anywhere where I don't give two craps about it. I prefer watching media on a big screen at home or in VR.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

With smarttv apps, IG could land IGTV on TVs, and start promoting 21:9 content. With this step, they only need to let the mobile app also work on horizontal orientation with these videos. Done, solved your complains.

How does that solve my complaints? What are you even trying to get at?

 

[Mister_K]

Ugh... unfortunately you are right. I just don't get it. I HATE media consumption on a phone or tablet, the screen is just too damn small. I don't understand why so many people like it. Seems everyone is more reliant on the idea of media anywhere where I don't give two craps about it. I prefer watching media on a big screen at home or in VR.

Opposite spectrum but young teens and older folks we have to thank. Young people because they religiously use social media and no one really uses desktops unless you are a geekzoid *hands up* and older folks because of ease and no time to sit behind computers (parents with families).

Uni/College students being primarily desktop users and possibly tablets for content.

____

I hate it, I love my 21:9 content and as bad as it is, I hate doing responsive websites for mobiles because you have to compensate in so many ways it pains me... There are ups but yeh...