Meet Features
On October 26, Instagram started testing Features: horizontal videos up to 90 minutes long. Way beyond a Reel. The test runs with a small group of creators in the US and Brazil, and it's designed with TV screens in mind.
TechCrunch and The Verge both describe it as a move into the long-form space where YouTube is strong.
The reported offers
To get the first videos in, Instagram is reportedly offering deals. Business Insider reports that some YouTubers were offered $50,000, and a few got offers as high as $500,000. Meta confirmed it is funding some creators directly, but says the terms are confidential.
The reported ask is simple: post the same video on Instagram the same day it goes up on YouTube.
Quick note: the dollar figures come from Business Insider's reporting. Other outlets, like Tubefilter, relay it.
The catch, for now
For everyone else, there's no standard payout for Features yet. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri says the company is exploring options to get long-form creators paid. And Features is still a limited test, not a full launch.
What it means for your money
- Platforms are competing for creators. More competition for the same videos can give creators more options.
- Long-form is the new battleground. Short video got everyone's attention. Now the fight is over longer watch time, including on the TV.
- Check how you get paid. If you make videos, compare payout models before you move your audience. Today, YouTube shares ad revenue and Features has no standard payout yet.
Not financial advice.
Sources
How we checked
Every claim above is backed by at least two of the sources listed, using the original report or the company's own statement where there is one. If we could only find something in one place, it didn't make the cut.
This is news and information only, not financial, legal or security advice. Read our disclosures.
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