The internet caught wind of Instagram dropping a new long-form video platform a few weeks back (yes, we wrote about it as well) and word spread like—well like everything spreads online these days. Turns out all the rumors and speculations were true as Instagram has officially revealed IGTV.

IGTV will be a stand-alone app for watching longform, vertical video. But don’t worry person reading this with no room on their phone for another app, the videos will also be coming to Instagram itself.

Instagram Dives Into Long-Form Video With IGTV

The press release reveals some of the information on IGTV and how it will be different than the current features on Instagram.

First, the videos will be displayed in full-screen and vertical, in other words, it is “built for how you actually use your phone.”

Video lengths will range from one minute—currently the max on Instagram—to up to an hour. However, his length will only be available to verified and larger accounts, while the rest of us will have to deal with a maximum of 10 minutes.

Instagram Dives Into Long-Form Video With IGTV

The videos will begin to play as soon as you open the app and from there you will be able to watch videos based on the following categories:

  • For You
  • Following
  • Popular
  • Continue Watching

From there, you will be able to like, comment, and send videos to friends in DMs.

Equating the service to television, Instagram says that IGTV will have channels but, unlike TV, “the creators are the channels.”

Users will be able to follow the creators/channels they wish (which sounds very similar to how we follow profiles now) and anyone has the option to become a creator.

“Instagram has always been a place to connect with the people who inspire, educate and entertain you every day.” They wrote, “With your help, IGTV begins a new chapter of video on Instagram. We hope it brings you closer to the people and things you love.”

In the statement, they also revealed that Instagram has reached a “global community of one billion.” Finally, rejoice, the photos above also reveal a task bar for video control which will be a nice addition compared to what we deal with now on the ‘Gram.


You can see the press statement here.

And there is some more information in there Help Center here.