Instagram introduces horizontal videos of up to 90 minutes among other features

Instagram is expanding beyond short-form videos with a new feature that will let selected creators upload horizontal videos lasting up to 90 minutes.

The feature, called Features, was announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri in a six-minute video featuring the platform’s Vice President of Product, Tessa Lyons. It is initially being made available to a limited number of creators in the United States.

The new format is designed for podcasters, comedians and other creators who produce longer videos. Lyons said the platform wanted to give creators more ways to share their work beyond short videos and photo carousels.

Features will complement Instagram Reels rather than replace them. Creators will be able to post short clips as Reels and link them to the full-length video, allowing viewers to move directly from a preview to the complete content.

In the announcement video, Lyons explained that users who come across a clip from a podcast they enjoy will be able to open the linked Feature and watch the entire episode.

Instagram also announced Series, a format that will allow creators to publish videos as part of a multi-episode collection. The feature is being tested with selected creators in the United States, India and Mexico, with expansion to other markets expected.

In another change, Instagram plans to recommend live broadcasts to people who do not follow the accounts hosting them by integrating live streams into the Reels feed.

The company is also expanding Instagram for TV to Apple TV, following its introduction on Samsung and Amazon Fire TV devices. Future updates are expected to let users control the television app through their phones and see what their friends are watching.