Substack Introduces TV App, Sparking Concerns Among Creators and Subscribers About the Shift from Writing

Substack Launches TV App Amid Mixed Reactions from Creators

Substack, the subscription-based platform that has transformed the media landscape since its inception nearly a decade ago, has unveiled a new TV app currently in beta testing. The app is exclusively available on Apple TV and Google TV.

In a recent blog post announcing the launch, Substack revealed that users will have access to video content featuring notable figures, including Dolly Parton, political commentators George Saunders and Tina Brown. The company emphasized that long-form videos and livestreams are ideally suited for television, allowing subscribers to engage deeply with quality content.

The app provides a mix of free and subscription-based programming. High-profile personalities from the television news industry, such as former CNN anchor Jim Acosta and MSNBC alum Mehdi Hasan, have embraced the platform, with Hasan describing Substack as a compelling response to the deteriorating state of traditional media.

While Substack has garnered a dedicated following, the announcement sparked a wave of criticism from creators and subscribers. Many expressed concern over the shift away from the platform’s text-centric roots. Creator Roman Shapoval questioned the decision, asking, “Why are you veering away from the written word?” Author Ali Isaac, who boasts nearly 4,000 subscribers, echoed these sentiments, urging the company to continue supporting its writers.

David Adeleke, who focuses on Africa’s media and tech landscape through his Substack, weighed in with similar apprehension, likening the venture to other failed media initiatives fueled by venture capital. “This just seems like another venture capital-fueled idea,” he said, indicating skepticism about the shift toward television.

Substack, acknowledging that the venture is in its early stages, stated, “This initial version of the TV app is focused on reliable, high-quality viewing, and we’ll be adding more features over time.” The company aims to develop the app based on user feedback.

As Acosta and other former TV news professionals produce daily shows, their presence on Substack raises questions about how traditional media outlets will respond. The platform’s ascendance has provoked varied reactions from established publishers, some of whom have begun establishing their own presence on Substack to engage readers increasingly drawn to this new medium.