Instagram tests 90-minute horizontal videos in long-form push
publishers 15articles 16first reported 25 Oct, 04:27 UTCdeveloping since 25 Oct · 6 editions
Instagram is testing a long-form, horizontal video format called “Features,” allowing selected creators to publish videos of up to 90 minutes as it expands beyond the short-form Reels that have dominated the platform.
The test is beginning with a small group of creators in the United States, while some creators in Brazil are also participating. Meta has reportedly struck individual deals with selected creators and is initially targeting podcasters and comedians. The videos will be available in Instagram’s main app and its television apps.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri said he had previously resisted long-form video because watching it could reduce interactions with Reels, photos and carousels. He now wants long- and short-form videos to work together, with clips from podcasts or comedy specials appearing as Reels and directing viewers to full versions.
Instagram is also testing tools that connect clips to longer videos and let creators organize related Reels into a series. Its television app, initially launched for Amazon Fire TV, has expanded to Apple TV, Google TV and Samsung devices, with support broadening beyond Reels to include Stories, livestreams and episodic content.
Meta told TechCrunch it is too early to detail a long-term monetization model. The company said it is exploring earnings from brands, fans, Instagram and performance-based incentives. Mosseri said the long-form initiative would take time to refine but that Meta is committed to it for the long term.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 30 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
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- Human review
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →