Instagram is determined to capture every last second of your free time. The Facebook-owned social network on Wednesday announced IGTV, a new long-form video platform that will allow certain users to post videos up to an hour long. With IGTV, Instagram moves closer to taking on Google’s YouTube and Snapchat. “It’s mobile first, it’s simple and it’s quality,” Instagram Chief Executive Kevin Systrom said during an event unveiling the service. The event was delayed by more than two hours due to technical issues. All Instagram users will be able to post on IGTV vertical videos up to 10 minutes long — with only users with 10,000 or more followers able to take advantage of the 60-minute length. Instagram previously capped video posts at 60 seconds. The photo-sharing social network said that it doesn’t plan on producing its own content but instead will rely on its “creators” — plus celebrities like Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian West and Kevin Hart — to make the app a draw. Systrom has no current plans to sell advertising on IGTV but said ads would likely be added in the future. “Right now we’re focused on building engagement, and there are no ads on IGTV,” he said. “But that’s obviously a very reasonable place to end up. There will be a way for creators to make a living.” Systrom also revealed on Wednesday that Instagram now has 1 billion monthly active users — up from 800 million users last September. “It’s incredible, and it’s something … I never thought would happen,” he said. Shares of Facebook closed up 2.3 percent, at $202.<doc-sep>Last week TechCrunch reported Instagram will launch a long-form video hub, with a tentative June 20th launch date. Now Instagram is asking reporters to RSVP for a June 20th “special event,” confirming our scoop’s date. The invitation simply reads “Instagram has some news to share, and we want you to be the first to hear about it.” This is Instagram’s chance to evolve from social media to just ‘media,’ stealing longer mobile viewing sessions away from YouTube and Snapchat Discover. Here are the details of the long-form video hub that we’ve heard from our sources: Format: Instagram will let creators upload 4K, full-screen, vertically oriented videos ranging much longer than the current 60-second limit on videos. Instagram will let creators upload 4K, full-screen, vertically oriented videos ranging much longer than the current 60-second limit on videos. Destination: The videos will be available from a centralized hub featuring curating sections of popular videos and an option to continue watching clips you’ve already started, though it’s unclear where in its app or a separate Instagram will host this destination. The videos will be available from a centralized hub featuring curating sections of popular videos and an option to continue watching clips you’ve already started, though it’s unclear where in its app or a separate Instagram will host this destination. Launch Partners: Instagram has been meeting with social media stars and content houses to establish launch partners for the June 20th reveal. Mid-Level Quality: The content is meant to approximate the clips you see on YouTube from star creators, shot with forethought and nice cameras, but most of it won’t be at the Netflix Originals or HBO-quality. The content is meant to approximate the clips you see on YouTube from star creators, shot with forethought and nice cameras, but most of it won’t be at the Netflix Originals or HBO-quality. Link-Outs: Instagram will let creators add a link that can be visited by swiping up on the video so they can drive traffic to their other social presences, e-commerce stores or websites. Instagram will let creators add a link that can be visited by swiping up on the video so they can drive traffic to their other social presences, e-commerce stores or websites. Monetization: Instagram plans to let creators earn money off their long videos, though it hasn’t finalized how yet. That could take the form of pre-roll ads or mid-break commercials, with creators potentially earning a revenue share. It’s also quite possible that Instagram will announce that it has hit 1 billion users, which would be a great way to draw content creators. Instagram hit 600 million in December 2016, 700 million in April 2017 and 800 million in September 2017. If it’s adding 100 million users every four months or so, that means it should have reached 1 billion by the June 20th event. Instagram has the opportunity to settle into a sweet spot between YouTube and Snapchat Discover. YouTube offers incredible breadth of content, but it’s so packed with amateurish videos that it can be tough to find the gems. With algorithmic, personalized curation and a narrower set of sources, Instagram could raise the likelihood that you’ll like what you’re shown. That could encourage users to fill a 7-minute Uber ride or 30-minute commute with Instagram’s long-form video rather than aimlessly wandering the web. Snapchat has focused on heavy-handed curation for Discover, only working with chosen partners. But that means it can be tough to find something to watch that really resonates. The recent redesign drowns polished Discover video in rivers of friends’ Stories and semi-pro creators. And Snapchat has just 191 million daily users compared to the 500 million-plus Instagram has. That reach could lure in creators who want to build their brand and audience, as well as earn money from their content. This is all what Facebook was hoping to do with Facebook Watch, but that original video hub was filled with third-rate reality shows and documentaries that haven’t piqued the interest of the younger crowd. Facebook is a ubiquitous utility, but it’s certainly not cool any more. It’s NBC. Here, Instagram has a chance to be the second coming of MTV. Check back on June 20th at 9am Pacific for our coverage of the Instagram event, and read our full scoop on what’s coming here:<doc-sep>
[Update: Supports landscape] Instagram launches a vertical video platform to compete with YouTube Update (5/23/19 @ 2:22 PM ET): Instagram’s vertical video platform now supports landscape video. Instagram is launching its own video platform to compete with YouTube following an announcement where the company revealed it had surpassed 1 billion users. Named IGTV, the service aims to work exactly like a television service on your smartphone—each episode is entirely free and up to an hour long. Oh, and Instagram is pushing vertical video only for this platform likely because most users browse Instagram on their phones. The service seeks to work exactly like TV in that you can open the application and it will automatically start playing a video. Swiping up will show more options like “For You,” “Following,” “Popular” and “Continue Watching.” You can also like and comment on videos and send them to your friends through private message. Just like on YouTube, everybody can create their own channel and become a creator as well. All you need is an account and your phone. I installed the app and took a tour of its UI. The application feels very cramped. There isn’t much room to move within it, and I don’t like that there’s nowhere I can go that isn’t playing a video other than the actual login screen. Even going to my channel or to upload a video overlays the UI elements over whatever is playing in the background. It’s a neat idea though, and you can just scroll across the videos at the bottom to see what’s available. It fills my display nicely, and there are vertical music videos available already. You can download the app from the Google Play Store below. We’re wondering what Instagram’s plan for the future is though and why all of a sudden companies want to make vertical video a thing. At least now the recent news that ex-Instagram and Google employees are launching a vertical video television service makes a bit more sense in context. Source: Instagram Update: Supports landscape IGTV was launched as a vertical video platform. It turns out people still really like landscape videos, so Instagram is adding support. Users can now upload landscape videos and it will be a better experience for viewers to watch them. Source: Instagram