Netflix plans to redesign its mobile application and expand short-form video features, aiming to increase daily engagement amid competition from platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, according to its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
The redesigned mobile app, set to launch in late 2026, will “better serve the expansion of our business over the decade to come,” stated co-CEO Greg Peters. This update establishes a foundation for continued experimentation, enabling the company to “iterate, test, evolve, and improve” its offering.
A central element of the redesign involves enhanced integration of vertical video feeds. Netflix has conducted experiments with these feeds since May, presenting short clips from its programming in a format similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Peters noted, “You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types, like video podcasts,” indicating that short-form clips are considered a tool for capturing attention and increasing app usage time.
Netflix has also initiated a push into video podcasts. The company debuted its initial original video podcasts this week, featuring personalities such as Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin. Major podcast players, including Spotify and iHeartMedia, have partnered with Netflix to integrate established video podcast libraries into the platform.
These initiatives aim to align content discovery and daily interaction on Netflix with a social platform experience. CTO Elizabeth Stone, speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, clarified that Netflix is not attempting to replicate TikTok but rather to enhance its entertainment discovery capabilities through mobile-first features.
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, during the earnings call, addressed the evolving competitive landscape in the streaming industry. He noted that services now compete with the broader entertainment sector, not just other streaming providers.
Sarandos stated, “There’s never been more competition for creators, for consumer attention, for advertising and subscription dollars, the competitive lines around TV consumption are already blurring.” He added, “TV is not what we grew up on. TV is now just about everything. The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube…Apple’s competing for Emmys and Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”
Sarandos also referenced Netflix’s film strategy, including recent changes in its theatrical release approach in preparation for acquiring Warner Bros. This indicates an openness to hybrid distribution models.
In 2025, Netflix achieved $45.2 billion in revenue. Ad revenue surpassed $1.5 billion, and the company reached 325 million paid subscriptions in the fourth quarter.
