Disney+ Announces Major Changes for Customers in 2026
Over the past few years, vertical video has become enormously popular with those who consume media, due in large part to social media video apps like TikTok and Instagram. Now, it seems like Disney+ is embracing the trend.
Over the next year, Disney+ announced that it will be rolling out a change that will add short-form vertical videos to the platform on mobile devices, giving customers a new way to consume content.
Vertical Video
This week, a Disney+ executive announced that the entertainment giant is planning to launch a new vertical video product on Disney+ this year. The new feature will include short-form content from the company’s entertainment portfolio, as well as news and sports.
“We want to bring the best of what makes our live products great, from ESPN to ABC News to Hulu Plus Live TV, all into this unified environment,” said Erin Teague, executive VP of product management, onstage at the event, via The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re also thinking about mobile-first experiences. We know that mobile is an incredible opportunity to turn Disney+ into a true daily destination for fans, so that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
“Over the next year, we’re introducing vertical video experiences on Disney+, think all of the short form Disney content you want all in one unified app,” she added. “Over time, we’ll evolve these experiences as we explore applications for a variety of formats, categories and content types for a dynamic feed of just what you’re interested in, from sports, news and entertainment, refreshed in real time based on your last visit.”
This follows a trend of platforms prioritizing short-form vertical videos, as Instagram recently announced plans for an app that allows users to watch Reels on their televisions, following a similar move from TikTok.
Embracing AI
In addition to its plans for short-form vertical videos, the company announced plans to embrace AI, rolling out AI-powered ad planning tools to help advertisers quickly create and develop ad spots and get them in front of the right customers.
“This isn’t just an AI model creating a clip,” said Disney executive VO Tony Donohoe, in a demo of the product. “The magic is the work we’re doing under the hood and bringing Disney’s blend of technical, creative and operational expertise as we build a capability with human oversight and imagination, we’re orchestrating multiple models working together in a single agentic workflow.
“So there’s a model driving the script, creating the storyboards, there’s another one driving the audio and the music and then generating the video, and it all takes into account your vision for mood, tone, style, all your oversight on ours and all while protecting IP, accounting for guardrails and compliance requirements,” he continued. “But then to truly delight you, we enable you to put the right creative in front of the right viewer at the right time.”
Disney seems to believe that AI is key to reaching Gen Alpha.
“They are the first AI native generation, and the interesting thing is, they don’t see stories as things that happen to them. Instead, they expect more agency,” Teague said. “They expect to interact with entertainment. Fans don’t just watch anymore. They react and research and remix. A dad and his daughter aren’t just streaming a Marvel show. They’re pausing to debate theories. They’re looking up the back stories on their phones, and then they’re sharing clips with friends.”
Needless to say, it sounds like Disney+ will look quite a bit different this year.