Meta's Instagram is now ready to arrive on smart TVs. After the iPad app, the company is now experimenting with a TV app.
Highlights
Instagram is now developing an app for TV, Adam Mosseri reveals
The platform is preparing to bring Reels and short videos to TV screens.
AI-based Reels translation feature also goes live, available in Hindi as well
Instagram is preparing to take its app experience to a new dimension. After recently launching an app for iPad, the Meta-owned social media platform is now working on an app for Smart TVs. The aim is to bring Instagram not just to phones, but to the big screen as well. If this recent media report proves to be true, then in the future, users will be able to scroll through Instagram Reels on their Smart TVs as well.
According to a Bloomberg report , Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirmed that the company is "exploring" the idea of a TV app. According to Mosseri, most users nowadays use TVs to consume content, so Instagram should be present in a "complementary" way across all devices where people consume media.
Mosseri also clarified that Instagram isn't currently pursuing any sports or Hollywood streaming deals. This means the upcoming TV app will be designed solely for Instagram content, such as Reels, Photos, and Short Videos.
Instagram, once a photo-sharing app, has now become a completely video-first platform. The company has been promoting Reels since its launch in 2020. Even the new iPad app now opens from the Reels feed, and the Reels tab has been given the most space on the navigation bar.
Meta 's move is seen as a move to compete with video platforms like YouTube. The TV app could help Instagram gain new viewers, especially those who prefer watching long-form or short videos on TV.
Meta also recently began rolling out a new AI-based feature for Reels on Instagram and Facebook that automatically translates, dubs, and lip-syncs videos. This feature will allow users to view Reels created in any language in their preferred language. It was demoed in August and is now available in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Portuguese. The company says this will help creators expand the reach of their content to a global audience.
This new Meta feature is currently integrated into Reels' existing interface and doesn't require any additional apps or tools. According to the company, the service is completely free, and more languages will be added in the future.
Is Instagram making an app for TV?
