IGTV
IGTV, short for Instagram TV, was a standalone video application by Instagram for Android and iOS smartphones.[2] It allowed for longer videos compared to Instagram feeds. IGTV was available as a stand-alone app, though basic functionality was also available within the Instagram app and website.[3]
Developer(s)
The service was launched and introduced by former Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom in a live event in San Francisco on June 20, 2018, featuring creators such as Lele Pons.[4]
On 1 March 2022 Instagram's parent company, Meta, announced the shutdown of IGTV, due to their focus on Instagram Reels. The app was removed from app stores in mid-March, and all IGTV videos were then merged into the Instagram app.[5]
[6]
Service[edit]
IGTV required users to login with an Instagram account. Mobile devices allowed uploads of up to 15 minutes in length with a file size of up to 650 MB, while desktop web browsers allowed uploads of up to 60 minutes in length with a file size of up to 3.6 GB.[7] The app auto-played videos as soon as it was launched, which Kevin Systrom contrasted to video hosts where one must first locate a video.[8][9][10]
Instagram accounts with an IGTV channel received an IGTV tab on their profile page. Additionally, uploads on IGTV could be mirrored to a linked Facebook page.
In May 2019, IGTV gained the ability to upload landscape videos.[11]