- Disney plans to make more short-form videos as part of the ‘micro-content’ trend
- The videos are set to build on ESPN ‘Verts’ showing sports highlights
- Netflix is also testing a vertical video feed on mobile to inspire more engagement
Disney plans to go all-in on short-form video content as part of a growing trend reshaping viewing habits.
After rolling out vertical videos on live TV apps like ESPN, Hulu + Live TV and ABC last year, the company said during its ‘Tech & Data Showcase’ event at CES 2026 that it also plans to introduce short-form videos on Disney+ over the next year.
“We know mobile is an incredible opportunity to make Disney+ a true daily destination for fans, so that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” said Erin Teague, Disney+ executive VP of product management. “Think all the short Disney content you want in one unified app.
“Over time, we will 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, updated in real-time based on your last visit.”
This means there are many different ways short-form videos can be used on Disney+, from original programming to clips made up of scenes from movies and shows that can be shared on social media like Netflix’s ‘Moments’ feature.
Teague confirmed as much in an interview with Deadline, saying that “everything is on the table,” but quickly cautioned that it wouldn’t introduce anything new that would disrupt the core Disney+ app experience, saying, “It’s not going to be some kind of disjointed, random experience.”
Disney has already rolled out vertical videos on ESPN to recap game highlights and analysis from commentators. At ABC News, it has used the video format to launch the daily short-form show What you need to know summarizing headlines, stories and viral moments.
Even Netflix has been testing a new vertical video feed that serves up clips of its original titles as a way to inspire users to watch a movie or show. CTO Elizabeth Stone hinted that this could be expanded to house “different types of content” at TechCrunch’s Disrupt 2025 conference last year.
While she didn’t elaborate on what these “new types of content” might be, it’s clear that vertical videos are more than just a social media tool for top streaming services as they tap into one of the fastest-growing phenomena in entertainment: micro-dramas.
What is the microcontent trend and how will it change streaming?
It’s no secret that the entertainment landscape is suffering from a bad case of déjà vu. A flurry of price hikes, ads, corporate mergers and battles over live sports rights have left streaming — once a bright spot that promised to disrupt the space — looking a lot like the days of cable TV.
This has given rise to subscription fatigue, which is not surprising when you consider how much the average household now spends on keeping up to date with their favorite movies and series. In fact, a study by Nationwide shows that Brits spend up to £1,200 / $1,600 / AU$2,400 a year on subscription services.
This has pushed many, especially younger viewers, to invest in other forms of entertainment, like the best free streaming services, physical media and of course social media. So it makes sense that some smart business minds would conjure up the idea of finding a way to merge Netflix’s success with TikTok.
After all, the global micro-drama industry is expected to make $26 billion. USD in annual revenue in 20230, according to research from Media Partners seen by Variety. Vertical mini-dramas have quickly become a phenomenon in the past four years, especially in China. Known as duanju, these serialized micro-dramas based on web novels are said to be as addictive as gambling.
But for anyone who doesn’t remember, this isn’t the first time original programming has been attempted in short form. Quibi was once an app that made short films and shows that could be watched on the go. However, it wasn’t long before the streamer was shut down.
Does this mean similar content made by Disney+ or Netflix will suffer a similar fate? I don’t think so. Not only because Quibi launched at a time when people were spending less time on their phones, but it had terrible marketing and the content left a lot to be desired.
Today, dedicated micro-drama apps like DramaBox and ReelShort are seeing growing subscribers, but are still operating at a loss due to high customer acquisition costs. That wouldn’t be a problem for streaming services like Disney+ or Netflix, which already have a large number of subscribers.
Disney also has the added advantage of already having an extensive short film library that could be repurposed for the vertical format. It’s clear that it thinks it’s worth investing in micro-dramas, but whether they’ll continue to take off is up in the air.
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