Disney+ is Going Vertical — Vertical Videos Coming to the Streamer

Normally, we're reporting on Disney Parks construction projects "going vertical" — but, in this case, it's Disney+!

What's Happening:

• Today, Disney held its sixth annual Tech and Data Showcase adjacent to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
• As Deadline reports, among the advertiser-centric announcements being made is that vertical video offerings will be coming to Disney+.
• The expansion is expected to arrive later this year.
• This feature is inspired by the "Verts" section of the updated ESPN app.
• That offering has proven popular. In fact, during a fireside chat with Disney Global Advertising President Rita Ferro, moderator Tim Sims noted his affinity for Verts.
• The announcement noted that Disney would "look to evolve the experience over time" but that the intent was 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+ into a must-visit daily destination.”
• As for what types of vertical content will be offered, Erin Teague (EVP of Product Management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN) told Deadline that "everything’s on the table."
• This means that vertical videos could be original short-form content, reformatted versions of longer-form content, or even social content.
• Of course, this isn't the first we've heard about different types of content coming to Disney+.
• Last month, Disney made a deal with OpenAI that will not only bring Disney characters to the Sora app but will eventually result in curated user-generated Sora content being available on Disney's streaming service.
• Even before that, Iger teased the addition of AI short-form UGC during an earnings call.