GoKawiilInstagram adds episodic 'Series' feature and pushes longer videos for TV viewing
Instagram is overhauling its video product to support longer-form, episodic content and improve the experience of watching on televisions, according to VP of product Tessa Lyons. A new feature called 'Series' lets creators turn Reels into episodic content with notifications for new episodes, and the company is testing social features like a Friends tab and a smartphone-as-remote tool for TV viewing.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The move suggests Instagram is trying to compete more directly with YouTube's dominance on television screens while avoiding the mistakes of IGTV, which failed partly because it restricted videos to vertical format. By combining short viral clips with longer episodic content on one platform, Instagram could be aiming to keep creators and viewers from migrating to YouTube or other streaming services for extended content.
- Instagram is building episodic content tools called 'Series' to extend Reels into longer-form entertainment
- The company is testing TV-focused features including a Friends tab and phone-as-remote control
- Lyons frames this as correcting IGTV's failure, which was limited to vertical video before its discontinuation
Chromecast with Google TV — If Instagram is turning into a streaming service made for your TV, you'll want an easy way to get it onto the big screen. A streaming device like this lets you cast or run apps directly for a more cinematic social video experience, perfect for the kind of couch-friendly Reels and Series content Instagram is building toward.
See Chromecast with Google TV on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: wired.com — Reece Rogers, 2026-10-27
Published there as: “Instagram Is a Streaming Service Now”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.