Disney+ Launches Vertical Video Feed With Creator Plans

Disney+ launched Verts, a TikTok-style vertical video feed, on the U.S. mobile app on March 12, with the company signaling plans to eventually open the format to creator content. The official announcement described Verts as the start of a broader product vision, not a finished feature.

How Verts works on Disney+

Users access Verts through a new icon in the Disney+ navigation bar. The feed presents vertical, swipeable clips pulled from existing Disney+ movies and shows. Each clip includes options to add the title to a Watchlist or jump directly into full playback.

The format mirrors the content discovery mechanic used by TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts: tap, swipe, discover. Disney is applying that pattern to its licensed catalog rather than user-generated content, at least initially.

Disney first announced Verts at its 2026 Global Tech & Data Showcase at CES in January. Early testing on both Disney+ and ESPN showed increased user engagement, though the company did not release specific metrics.

The creator content signal

The catalog clips are the starting point, but the more significant detail is what Disney outlined for subsequent phases. The company said Verts will eventually include creator content "that reflects our fandoms," along with new storytelling formats and personalized experiences.

Disney described the current launch as "the first scene of the first episode," framing Verts as a long-term product with a multi-phase roadmap. If Disney follows through on creator access, it would transform Verts from a content discovery tool into something closer to a social content platform within a premium streaming environment.

What this could mean for brands and creators

For advertisers, the potential of creator content on Disney+ introduces a distribution channel that does not currently exist. TikTok, Reels, and Shorts all operate in environments where brand safety remains a persistent concern. Disney+ offers a curated, premium context where brands have historically been comfortable placing spend.

If Verts opens to creators, sponsored content and brand partnerships within the feed could combine the reach mechanics of short-form video with Disney's brand-safe positioning. That combination would be distinct from anything currently available on other social platforms.

For creators, Disney+ would represent a new audience acquisition channel with built-in discovery. The difference from YouTube Shorts or TikTok is that Disney+ comes with an existing subscriber base paying for premium content, which could translate to higher-value audience engagement.

Where Verts fits in the streaming landscape

Disney+ is not the first streamer to adopt vertical video. Netflix added a similar short-form clips feature in 2024, using it as a content preview and discovery tool. YouTube Shorts has been a core part of YouTube's strategy for several years.

The differentiator for Disney is the explicit mention of creator content. Netflix's vertical feature focuses on studio-produced clips. YouTube Shorts is entirely creator-driven. Disney appears to be signaling a hybrid model where curated catalog content coexists alongside creator-produced material tied to Disney's intellectual properties. That hybrid approach, if realized, would position Disney+ uniquely among both streaming and social platforms.