Disney Plus is getting ready to hop onto the trend of vertical short-video format, which first came into the spotlight with TikTok’s “For You” feed. First reported by Deadline , Disney has announced the plan at its Tech + Data Showcase at CES 2026 . The report adds that the decision comes as Disney Plus is looking to catch up with its streaming and digital rivals in terms of daily engagement.
Disney Plus will roll out vertical videos later this year to take on rivals
The vertical videos on Disney Plus will reportedly roll out later this year . In a statement, the streaming giant said that it is looking to explore its use in a variety of ways across categories and content types, for a personalized and dynamic feed. That will include expanding across news and entertainment, turning Disney Plus into a must-visit daily destination.
Disney will reportedly include original short-form programming, repurposed social clips, refashioned scenes from longer-form episodic or feature titles, or a combination in the vertical video. All of that will be streamed via the Disney Plus app.
This isn’t the first time Disney is adding vertical videos to its app. Last year, the revamped ESPN app featured a similar video format, which the company called “Verts.” Disney says it is looking to evolve the experience over time with its vertical video plan.
The streaming giant has a few other plans, too
Other than this, the company has also announced a new “brand impact” metric and a new AI video generation tool. The news outlet further notes that together these will help advertisers create “high-quality connected-TV-ready commercials using existing assets and guidelines.”
In the recent past, streaming platforms have shifted their focus toward the vertical video format. Netflix is among them, which added vertical video feed featuring clips from movies and shows last year. While Disney looks to take on its rivals, only time will tell whether the decision will prove fruitful.
