Netflix unveils its new app designed to take on TikTok and Insta.
Rolling out today is a new mobile app experience for Netflix users. Initially it is launching in just nine countries, with others to follow over the coming months. Today’s launch includes the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Africa.
The ubiquity of Netflix nowadays means that a new app experience is a pretty major deal in the world, both in terms of shifting the way many viewers watch their TV, but also in setting a benchmark of expectation for other streaming services to meet.
This 2026 mobile experience redesign keeps the mobile experience in line with the look and feel of its connected TV app redesign, while also introducing a vertical video feed.
I downloaded the new app this morning, but can’t see the vertical “Clips’ feed. Maybe what I downloaded isn’t the new app after all. *shrug*
Netflix announced in its blog post that the Clips feed will be used in the future to include “podcasts, live programming and collections based on genres, like romance or specific interests.”
Great news as I have a lot of genre-based interest in ‘specific interests.’
Related… maybe:
Netflix today announced a deal with production house American High to bring its short-form series Minimum Wage to the platform.
Minimum Wage has a 28-episode order with episodes to debut later this year. Episodes will run around 12.5 mins. As per Variety:
Since launching in May 2024, the original “Minimum Wage” shorts have drawn over 30 million views across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
The media release quote from American High’s founders Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps (they’re also Minimum Wage’s showrunners):
“The cast of American High Shorts shot the original sketches on their phones, in an abandoned high school. Now they’re series regulars on Netflix,” Garelick and Phelps said. “That’s the American High model. Find the funniest kids in the room, hand them the keys, and get out of the way. We’re making coming-of-age comedies in the spirit of John Hughes for the generation that grew up on a screen, and we’re honored Netflix is letting us do it at this scale.”
American High has produced 18 films to date, including Pizza Movie which recently debuted on Hulu.
It strikes me that this is exactly the sort of programming that would play well on the new Netflix vertical feed. Short-form formats that can be cropped for both landscape connected TV and vertical mobile video is more than likely going to be a focus for the business going forward – worth keeping in mind if you’re pitching Netflix on a project anytime soon.
News Desk
It isn’t clear what constituted success for feature documentary Melania by Amazon. Robust ticket sales and strong viewing figures likely weren’t the benchmark figures being sought. Worth keeping that in mind with news that there’s internal talk at Amazon about a revival of The Apprentice (which Amazon now part-owns through its MGM acquisition) to be hosted by Don Jr. Read: Wall Street Journal
AMC has greenlit the NASCAR drama series Thunder Road starring Dennis Quaid for 2027. Read: thefutoncritic
Hot of the
Starz has ordered a family drama series set in the world of “Black rodeo” in Texas. Read: Variety
To no real surprise, Scrubs and Shifting Gears have both been renewed at ABC. No word yet on RJ Decker, its only yet-to-be-renewed scripted show. Read: THR
That Lanterns trailer pulled by HBO? Seems it was because there was music featured in it that had an issue with the rights expiring. A revised version has since been published, with the show now given an August 16 release date for HBO Max. Cancel all of my plans! (I never have plans). Read: EW
What, if anything, can stop the Paramount/WBD merger? This is a good current state of play explainer at Vulture.
BBC will screen a lost 1968 episode of Morecambe and Wise on May 14. Read: RadioTimes
The Vampire Lestat (a rebranded Interview With The Vampire season 3) will hold a promotional concert in NYC with star Sam Reid as Lestat taking to the stage. Read: thefutoncritic
My Adventures With Superman returns for season three June 13. Now with added Supergirl and Cyborg Superman. Read: thefutoncritic
There’s now a US$599.99 Grogu animatronic doll that you can buy. Hasbro's Ultimate Grogu reportedly has a soft-skin face, rooted hair, and realistic clothing. Sounds so real that I’d watch out if you have a jar of eggs nearby. Read: Polygon
Corrections Dept
In yesterday’s newsletter I attributed the Casper TV show in development to Netflix when it is actually Disney+. I goofed.
Trailer Park
Office Romance debuts on Netflix June 5.
Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein lead a raunchy romantic comedy about a secret office romance and the trouble two workaholics get in when they start thinking with their hearts.
The Map of Longing debuts on Netflix July 17.
A young woman receives a mysterious game created by her sister before she died to help her find a new purpose in life - and meet a charming stranger.
It’s Not Like That debuts on Prime Video May 15.
It's Not Like That follows Malcolm (Scott Foley), a pastor who is a recently widowed dad of three. Lori (Erinn Hayes) is newly divorced with two teens. Their families once did everything together, but now Malcolm and Lori must navigate their newly minted singledom with parenthood. Is this the beginning of a love story? It's not like that. Or is it?
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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