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Netflix, Disney, Paramount Embrace Short-Form Video to Rival TikTok

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Netflix

Netflix, Disney, and Paramount invest in short-form vertical videos to engage mobile audiences and compete with TikTok and YouTube

Hollywood streaming giants Netflix, Disney, and Paramount are turning to short-form video streaming to reclaim audiences increasingly captivated by TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

Also read: The Ghoul Awakens Hits Netflix on Jan 30

Industry insiders say vertical, snack-sized videos are being deployed to boost engagement on mobile devices and reach viewers during day-to-day browsing.

The short-form video format has surged globally. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed Instagram and Facebook Reels now generate an estimated $50 billion in annual revenue, while Google reported that YouTube Shorts are viewed over 200 billion times daily.

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Analysts note the format’s alignment with modern attention spans and smartphone usage makes it a critical battleground for streaming services.

Paramount has prioritised short-form content, planning to add up to a million clips to Paramount+ “as quickly as possible,” according to internal sources.

Netflix and Peacock have also invested in vertical videos, while Disney has integrated short-form content into its revamped ESPN app and intends to expand the format to Disney+.

Experts caution that short-form content remains harder to monetise, though it appeals to younger audiences.

Brandon Katz, insights director at Greenlight Analytics, said, “Not even attempting to engage with it isn’t an option. Short-form content is harder to monetise, but easier for young consumers to swallow.”

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Media analysts highlight vertical videos’ potential to build viewing habits throughout the day, rather than only during traditional binge-watching periods.

Emily Horgan, a media consultant specialising in children’s content, said, “Premium streaming is plowing into this space because of a need to own more lean-back moments in a viewer’s day.”

The strategy also allows streamers to repurpose existing shows and movies into vertical clips, creating cost-effective content that maintains subscriber attention.

Paramount has additionally explored the integration of user-generated content, a hallmark of TikTok and Instagram, into its platform.

Despite past challenges Netflix retired its initial “Fast Laughs” feature after two years the streaming platforms continue experimenting with short-form vertical video.

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Disney plans to launch AI-generated clips on Disney+ developed with OpenAI’s Sora, while Peacock has already added NBA and show highlights in vertical format.

Critics note that TikTok and YouTube retain unique engagement through interactive features and user-generated content.

Also read: Arese Ugwu opens up about Netflix rejection, her dreams as a filmmaker

Still, streaming platforms aim to leverage short-form videos as tasters, enticing viewers to explore full-length shows and movies and strengthen long-term engagement.

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Entertainment

Lizzy Anjorin Questions Court Order Over Priscilla Ojo’s Son

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Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.

Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.

The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.

“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.

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Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.

The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.

The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.

An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.

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Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.

Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.

The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.

The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.

In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.

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BBNaija Kess Says Big Brother Makes Life Harder

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Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.

The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.

“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.

The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.

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Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.

His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.

Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.

However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.

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Damilola Oni Suffers Backlash at Mama Deola Movie Premiere

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Damilola Oni

Nigerian actress Damilola Oni has come under heavy fire across social media over her controversial outfit at the star-studded Mama Deola movie premiere (more…)

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