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Instagram is testing videos up to 90 minutes long.
The feature, called “Features,” will let selected US creators upload horizontal videos, including full-length podcasts and comedy content. “What you’re now going to be able to do is, you see a clip of a podcast that you love, you can just click and continue watching or watch the full video, and you’ll be able to dive in and see the whole thing because creators are going to be able to link these Reels to their overall feature,” Lyons added. Creators can link short Reels to these longer videos, letting viewers keep watching without leaving the platform. The test has already begun in the US, while the company plans to expand access to this feature for tens of thousands of creators. Early participants include podcast host and Skims co-founder Emma Grede, beauty and fashion creator Monet McMichael, interviewer Preston Rakovsky and football creator Donald De La Haye.
The test follows an earlier trial in Brazil and is part of Instagram’s effort to attract more entertainment viewing.
The app launched last year on Samsung, Fire TV, and Google TV, and is expanding to Apple TV in the US. Features will be available on mobile, with Instagram also planning to support viewing through its TV app. It plans to test Series in more countries in the coming months, with a US trial expected by the end of this year or early next year. Testing has also begun on how Series will appear on TV.