Disney+ Learns From TikTok With This Year’s New Short-Form Video Stream
Disney+ is transforming the way viewers engage with its platform as the streaming service gears up to launch short-form video content in the U.S. later this year, indicating a move towards more regular, everyday interaction.
During CES 2026, Disney’s Tech + Data Showcase unveiled the update, with executives detailing plans to introduce vertically oriented videos tailored for quick viewing. The company states that the feature is still developing, focusing on personalization while integrating entertainment and news-style content within the Disney+ app.
In a blog post accompanying the announcement, Disney stated that the new format seeks to provide “a more personalized, dynamic experience that reinforces Disney+ as a must-visit daily destination.” The short videos can include original productions, repackaged social clips, and brief scenes taken directly from Disney’s film and television catalog.
Disney has highlighted that the rollout will be deliberate rather than merely following trends. “We are clearly considering the integration of vertical video in ways that align with fundamental user behaviors,” Erin Teague, EVP of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, shared with Deadline. “Therefore, it will not be a fragmented or haphazard experience.”
The strategy mirrors a previous initiative introduced in the ESPN app last year, where Disney experimented with a personalized vertical video feed to promote repeat visits. By broadening that strategy to Disney+, the company aims to attract younger audiences who are increasingly drawn to short, scrollable clips rather than traditional long-form content.
Other streamers have already taken steps in this direction. In 2025, Netflix launched a vertical video feed, enabling users to explore shows via brief previews, underscoring a rising trend in the industry to merge streaming with social media-like viewing experiences.
