The smartphone screen is starting to feel too small for Instagram. Meta's hugely popular social media platform has widened the reach of its TV app, making it available on Samsung Smart TVs in the United States. Alongside this, the company has announced a clutch of new features aimed at making big-screen viewing more social and more fun.
The TV app will now work on every Samsung Smart TV that launched in 2020 or later. Until now, the app was limited to Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices. With this latest expansion, most connected TV devices in the United States can now run Instagram's TV app.
Internet Channels and Reels Casting
To make the viewing experience richer, the company has also started testing internet-based channels. These channels pull together videos around comedy, sports, creators and other themes in one place, making it easier for families or friends to sit together and find content they like.
Another standout feature is Reels Casting. It lets users play Reels directly on the TV straight from their phone. Available on Google TV and Fire TV devices, the feature also brings videos a user has saved to their personal collection onto the big screen, making it far simpler to share content with friends and family.
Stories and Horizontal Videos Are Coming Too
The company is adding support for Stories within the TV app. It is also testing a separate section for horizontal videos, so clips made for wider screens display better. Instagram says all of these features are still in an early testing stage and are being shaped around how users actually watch.
A Fresh Opening for Creators
Instagram believes that longer videos and episodic content on TV will give creators room to tell their stories in more detail. To sharpen this experience, the company is working closely with several creators and gathering their feedback.
When Will India Get It
For now, the Instagram TV app and its new features are available only in the United States. The company has not yet said when the feature will reach other countries, including India. Still, the update makes one thing clear: Instagram is now preparing to strengthen its presence on connected TV platforms, not just smartphones.
