Disney is set to roll out short-form vertical videos on its Disney Plus streaming service later this year, following the success of a similar feature on ESPN. The move aims to attract younger audiences with bite-sized content. The announcement came during the company's Global Tech & Data Show at CES 2026.
Disney's streaming ambitions are expanding into the realm of short-form vertical videos, a format popularized by platforms like TikTok. Building on the positive reception of ESPN's 'Verts' launched in the second half of last year, Disney Plus will integrate similar content starting later this year. This initiative seeks to foster daily viewing habits among users by offering quick, engaging clips.
The details emerged at Disney's annual Global Tech & Data Show, held alongside CES 2026. There, executives outlined enhancements for their streaming platforms, including tools to support advertising partners. Erin Teague, Disney's executive vice president for product management and a former YouTube executive, elaborated in an interview with Deadline. She described the vertical videos as versatile, potentially encompassing original shorts, social media clips, or repurposed segments from Disney's extensive library of TV shows and movies.
Teague emphasized the goal of creating 'bite-sized experiences' to draw viewers back to the app regularly. ESPN, which Disney owns, introduced its vertical video feature as part of an app overhaul last year, and the company reports it has been successful in engaging audiences.
In its official statement, Disney noted: 'The experience will evolve as it expands across news and entertainment and delivers a more personalized, dynamic experience that reinforces Disney Plus as a must-visit daily destination.' This development underscores Disney's strategy to adapt to evolving viewer preferences, particularly among younger demographics who favor mobile-friendly, vertical formats.