Netflix is set to introduce short-form videos to its platform from early August, expanding its content offering beyond films and series, according to a report by Business Insider.
The streaming platform has signed licensing deals with publishers including BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, Penske Media and People Inc. Under these agreements, subscribers will be able to watch videos ranging from three to 20 minutes from brands such as Bon Appétit, Cosmopolitan, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Vogue, spanning categories like travel, cooking and fashion.
The move is part of Netflix’s broader push into video podcasts and short-form vertical video, as competition intensifies with YouTube for a larger share of television viewing time. According to Nielsen, YouTube accounted for 13.4% of US TV viewing in April 2026, compared with Netflix’s 7.8%, underlining the scale of the challenge Netflix faces in the streaming-versus-video battle.
By licensing established publisher brands rather than building short-form content from scratch, Netflix appears to be betting on familiar, trusted names to draw viewers toward its platform for quick, snackable content, alongside its traditional long-form library. The strategy also signals a shift in how streaming platforms are responding to changing viewing habits, as audiences increasingly split their time between long-form binge-watching and shorter, more frequent video consumption.
Whether this move meaningfully dents YouTube’s dominance in TV viewing time remains to be seen, but it marks a notable expansion of Netflix’s content strategy beyond its core film and series offering.
