Weekend Waves 12/26

📱 Streaming Becomes a Daily Companion as Short-Form and AI Redefine Engagement

Happy Friday, Wavemakers!

Globally, we spend over 500 billion minutes a day watching videos online - and yet, somehow, we’re still obsessed with making it shorter and smarter. This week’s news are all about my two “favourite” topics - AI and Micro Series.

Here are the top stories making waves this week:

1️⃣ Streaming Becomes a Daily Companion
2️⃣ AI Hits the Spotlight (and the Gatekeepers)
3️⃣ Legacy Shows Reimagine Their Lifecycles

Let’s dive in!

🌊 News that Made Waves

1. Disney+ Is Rolling Out its TikTok-Like ‘Verts’ Short-Form Video Feed.

   Disney+ is starting to roll out Verts, its new short-form video feed, to U.S. users on its mobile app. First announced in January, the TikTok-like Verts feed features scenes and moments from movies and TV shows on Disney+. Following the success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, Verts is designed to boost daily engagement and reach mobile-first viewers, all while increasing discovery across Disney+’s catalogue. Users will be able to access the feed through a new icon in the app’s navigation bar. As users swipe through the feed, they can add shows to their watchlist or jump directly into the show or movie. While Verts is starting as a way to showcase clips from content on Disney+, the company says it will eventually feature “content from creators that reflects our fandoms, plus other storytelling formats, content types, and personalised experiences.” (TechCrunch)

   

   💡Disney+ is turning from a lean-back viewing platform into a daily habit product, using short-form video as the new front door to long-form content.

2. Micro Series Platform FlareFlow Rebooting SupermodelMe as Vertical Reality Series.

   Long-running reality series SupermodelMe is getting the micro series treatment and will be relaunched as a vertical show on streaming platform FlareFlow later this year. FlareFlow owner, China’s COL Group and producer Singapore-based Refinery Media have teamed up to reimagine the franchise, which was created by Karen Seah and first launched in Asia in 2009. Created and owned by Refinery Media, the modelling competition series ran for six seasons on platforms including AXN Asia, KIX and Diva Universal and was also acquired by Netflix.

   Refinery Media and COL said the deal, announced at FilmArt in Hong Kong this week, marks the first time an established reality IP has been fully “reengineered” for mobile-first episodic storytelling on a large scale. (C21 Media)

   💡The reboot of SupermodelMe shows that legacy reality formats won’t survive the shift to vertical video unless they’re fundamentally redesigned for short-form, mobile-first storytelling rather than simply reformatted.

3. Google Invests $1 Million in Company That Makes AI YouTube Videos for Kids.

   Google is funneling $1 million from its AI Futures Fund accelerator programme into a company called Animaj, which makes AI-generated videos for kids, according to Bloomberg. Animaj will also reportedly get early access to Google’s Veo video models before they’re released to the public, and will be given special insights from DeepMind, Google’s AI division. According to Animaj’s YouTube channel description, it “acquires and turns iconic Kids’ IPs into global franchises using an AI-driven, digital-first, and multi-platform approach”. (Gizmodo)

   💡Google is betting that AI can turn classic kids’ shows into continuous, global content pipelines, reshaping how franchises grow.

4. AI-Generated Andy Cohen in the Works for Bravo on Peacock.

   NBCUniversal’s Peacock is debuting a suite of new products geared toward mobile users, emphasising the vertical nature of smartphones in a bid to grow engagement with its streaming platform. Before you watch what happens live on Bravo, you will be able to have an AI-generated avatar of Andy Cohen explain what already happened in the world of the Real Housewives; sports fans will be able to watch live NBA games, using AI-powered tech that controls the view with vertical video in mind; and Peacock is planning a significant expansion of games on its platform, bringing IP-driven fare like a new Law & Order mobile game, as well as a playable version of Jeopardy!, to its offering. The expansion of vertical and interactive content comes as Peacock attempts to capture more audience time from its 44 million or so subscribers. (THR)

   

   💡With AI explainers and vertical viewing, Peacock is turning premium TV into a more snackable, interactive, and mobile-native experience designed to capture attention between traditional viewing moments.

5. ByteDance Reportedly Pauses Global Launch of its Seedance 2.0 Video Generator.

   ByteDance has paused plans to launch its new AI video model globally, according to a report in The Information. They launched Seedance 2.0 in China back in February. Brief videos generated by the model, including a clip featuring Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt, soon went viral and drew intense criticism from Hollywood. While one successful screenwriter declared that the footage meant, “It’s likely over for us,” studios quickly sent ByteDance a flurry of cease-and-desist letters, with Disney’s lawyers accusing the company of a “virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP.” ByteDance responded by promising to introduce stronger safeguards for intellectual property. The company had planned to make Seedance 2.0 available globally in mid-March, The Information said, but it’s delaying those plans as its engineers and lawyers work to avert further legal issues. (TechCrunch)

   💡By pausing Seedance’s global rollout, ByteDance is showing that the real bottleneck for AI video isn’t technology, but clearing the legal and IP frameworks that will define how (and if) it scales worldwide.

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🧠 Strategy Spotlight: Streaming Becomes a Daily Companion as Short-Form and AI Redefine Engagement

The latest moves from platforms like Disney+ show a clear evolution in how streaming is being designed. With the rollout of Verts, Disney+ isn’t just offering a new feature, it’s creating a new way to engage. By delivering short-form, TikTok-style clips from movies and TV shows directly in a vertical feed, Disney+ is aiming to make content discovery more immediate and habitual. Users can swipe through moments, save shows to their watchlist, or dive straight into full episodes, blurring the line between casual scrolling and active viewing. The shift signals that streaming is no longer about occasional binge sessions; it’s about becoming a part of daily routines.

Legacy Formats, Rebuilt for Mobile

The reboot of SupermodelMe on FlareFlow shows that even established IP cannot simply be repurposed - it must be redesigned for vertical, micro episode storytelling. By breaking a traditional reality competition into mobile-first episodes, FlareFlow is treating every moment as an entry point to engagement. This approach mirrors the philosophy behind feeds: each piece of content must be immediately compelling, short enough to fit into small pockets of attention, and capable of driving the viewer toward deeper engagement with the full series.

AI as a Growth Engine

AI is accelerating this trend by making it easier to produce frequent, scalable content. Google’s investment in Animaj illustrates how AI can turn kids’ IP into multi-platform franchises, producing clips, episodes, or digital-first content at a pace impossible for traditional studios. Similarly, Peacock’s AI-powered Andy Cohen explainers demonstrate that AI isn’t just a production tool, it’s a way to meet viewers in moments when they can’t or won’t sit down for a full episode. By combining vertical-first design with AI, platforms are creating new touchpoints throughout the day.

Legal Hurdles Highlight the Limits

However, not every experiment moves forward smoothly. ByteDance’s pause of Seedance 2.0 highlights that while technology can generate infinite content, legal and IP frameworks remain a critical gatekeeper. Platforms must balance innovation with rights management, which will increasingly shape what types of AI-generated content can scale globally.

The Bigger Picture

Taken together, these examples show that the streaming industry is undergoing a subtle but profound shift. It’s no longer enough to offer a strong library of shows or movies; platforms are designing around moments that fit into users’ daily lives. Short-form clips, vertical episodes, AI explainers, and interactive mini-games all serve the same goal: becoming a constant companion rather than a one-off destination. For marketers, creators, and strategists, the opportunity lies in understanding this behavioural shift and designing content that can move fluidly between casual scrolling and deep engagement.

💡 Streaming is evolving from a destination you visit into a companion that shows up in the flow of your day, and the platforms that master these moments will define the next era of audience engagement.

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⏪ ICYMI: European TV Commissioning Crisis

Europe’s TV market is full of ideas - but getting them made is another story. Producers are pitching non-stop, development pipelines are bursting - yet greenlights feel scarcer than ever. After years of “Peak TV” growth, the numbers now point to a real slowdown, with streamers pulling back and broadcasters taking a more cautious approach.

It’s not just about fewer shows, it’s about how the entire commissioning system is evolving.

From tighter budgets and shorter seasons to more complex co-productions, the market is becoming more selective, strategic, and competitive. Understanding these shifts is key for anyone trying to navigate Europe’s changing TV landscape.

👉 Earlier this week, I explored why development activity can feel high while greenlights remain rare and what it really takes for projects to move forward in today’s market » Beyond the Hype 03/26

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👀 Format Migration Watch: Legacy Shows Embrace YouTube as a New Launchpad

Somebody Feed Phil Moving To YouTube In 2027 As Phil Rosenthal Inks Strategic Global Deal With Banijay.

In a surprising twist on content distribution, Somebody Feed Phil is swapping subscription streaming for a free, creator-centric platform. After eight seasons on Netflix, Phil Rosenthal’s series will debut new episodes on YouTube in 2027 via a dedicated Phil Rosenthal World channel, while the existing seasons remain on Netflix. (Deadline)

This approach blends long-form storytelling with short-form, digital-first opportunities designed for YouTube’s audience, giving the show a new way to reach viewers where they already spend their attention.

The shift flips the usual streaming migration path. Rather than starting on a free platform and moving to subscription services, this established IP is bringing its legacy to a globally accessible, ad-supported space, keeping older seasons behind a paywall while experimenting with fresh content in a more open ecosystem. (I wrote more about closed and open ecosystems last week in Weekend Waves)

💡 The move highlights a growing strategy for established formats: maintaining control over their IP, engaging directly with audiences, and exploring hybrid monetisation models that combine subscriptions, ad revenue, and digital-first expansions.

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☀️ Weekend Vibes

If something sparked a thought, or you think a friend would enjoy this, hit reply or forward it along. Sandra x

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Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss this further or if you have any questions: sandra@tvfuturist.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.