The Facebook-owned photo sharing app company during a media event unveiled IGTV, a standalone mobile app focused on programming from creators on the platform. Video on the app will be vertical and full-screen, and content will start playing right when a user opens the app.
Co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom wrote in a blog post that:
“It’s built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical,” Systrom wrote. “We strived to make it simple, too. Just like turning on the TV, IGTV starts playing as soon as you open the app. You don’t have to search to start watching content from people you already follow on Instagram and others you might like based on your interests.”
Product manager Ashley Yuki, who took the stage at the event also said:
“IGTV “is an open platform from day one, so everyone can become a creator.” also added that “The app will allow any user to upload videos up to 10 minutes long, with the limit for larger accounts at one hour.
How it will work?
Until now, you’ve only been able to post to Instagram on a mobile device. That’s another big change with IGTV – where you’ll be able to upload on desktop and clips will get a unique link. Each user will have a channel, similar to YouTube, where the videos will be stored. If you’ve got an Instagram account, you’ll get a channel once you update the app.
Like all content on Instagram – IGTV will follow its rules and regulations. Those guidelines explain that the user must not post violent, nude, discriminatory or hateful content and not every video will be approved by the company before it’s uploaded.
IGTV will allow users to create videos that are up to an hour long, unlike the current Instagram app where videos max out at one minute. And while the new app is designed as the home for such content, it will all be accessible through the normal app.
The launch comes amid a shift in video viewing habits away from traditional television to online platforms including Netflix and Hulu, and with more people watching both professional and user content on services like YouTube. In an attempt to rival the likes YouTube as a long-form video platform, which has been the starting point for a large number of online stars, including British fashion and beauty blogger Zoella. IGTV will be populated by videos from celebrities and prominent Instagram stars including Kim Kardashian West, Selena Gomez and Tyler Blevins – better known as video game live streamer Ninja.
The IGTV app will be launching for both iOS and Android devices in the next few days.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
