Substack is launching a TV app, and not everyone is happy | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Substack is launching a TV app, and not everyone is happyComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechSubstack is launching a TV app, and not everyone is happyThe company that started as a newsletter platform has rapidly expanded to different content formats.The company that started as a newsletter platform has rapidly expanded to different content formats.by Mia SatoCloseMia SatoFeatures Writer, The VergePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia SatoJan 22, 2026, 8:21 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: SubstackMia SatoCloseMia SatoPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia Sato is features writer with five years of experience covering the companies that shape technology and the people who use their tools.Substack announced Thursday it’s launching Apple TV and Google TV apps that audiences can use for videos and livestreams — and early reactions suggest not all users are thrilled.Subscribers can watch videos and livestreams from creators they follow, but the app will also have a recommendations-based “For You” feed that mixes in other creators’ content. The TV app is available to both free and paid subscribers, and Substack says it will eventually add audio content and more discovery features.For many, it appears this was not welcome news. In the short time since the blog post went live, it’s been flooded with comments from writers and users who are frustrated with the focus on video content.“Why are you doing this Substack? Why are you veering away from the written word?” one writer asked. Another: “Please don’t do this. This is not Youtube. Elevate the written word.” (To be fair, a few commenters do seem excited about the feature.)The negative reaction hints at a fear long held by some of the platform’s earliest adopters: Substack is no longer a place prioritizing writing. Over the past few years, the platform has added video and livestreaming capabilities, added a tweet-like feature called Notes, and pledged to spend $20 million to lure TikTok creators to the platform. Substack had held out on inserting ads for years, but last year signaled it was open to it; in December 2025 it began rolling out sponsored segments that writers could plug into their newsletters. The company used to present itself as a refuge for writers and journalists who wanted to break away from the instability and pressures of working at a traditional media company, even offering lucrative deals (that included healthcare) to star writers. Some of those marquee writers have since left the platform, whether it’s because they felt Substack had become too much like a social media platform or because of the ecosystem of Nazi newsletters that appears to be a persistent problem.From an industry-wide perspective, putting video podcasts and other content on TVs makes sense: In October 2025, YouTube users watched 700 million hours of podcasts on their televisions (Spotify redesigned its TV app that same month, adding video podcasts and music videos). For Substack, trying to get a piece of this pie makes sense for the business — but it may have a harder time convincing longtime users of the pivot.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Mia SatoCloseMia SatoFeatures Writer, The VergePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia SatoCreatorsCloseCreatorsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All CreatorsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularClaude Code is suddenly everywhere inside MicrosoftWhat a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsSony announces its first turntables in yearsEveryone can hear your TV in their headphones using this transmitterHow much can a city take?The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Substack is expanding its content offerings with a television app, yet this shift has elicited a significant amount of negative reaction from its user base. The company, initially known for its newsletter platform, has rapidly diversified its offerings, now encompassing video content, livestreaming, and features like Notes – a tweet-like system. This expansion has prompted concern among many of Substack’s original subscribers who championed the platform as a haven for written content and journalistic integrity. Numerous comments on the announcement have expressed dismay, with users questioning Substack’s direction and fearing the platform is straying from its core values. One recurring sentiment is the apprehension that Substack is transforming into a social media-like environment, mirroring the concerns raised by some regarding the influx of features such as Notes and its willingness to explore advertising revenue.

Over recent years, Substack has undergone significant changes, including the addition of video and livestreaming capabilities, experimentation with the Notes feature, and the offering of lucrative deals – including healthcare – to attract high-profile writers. However, some of these writers have subsequently left the platform, citing a shift towards a more social media-oriented ecosystem or concerns surrounding the proliferation of what some described as “Nazi newsletters” amongst its subscriber base. From an industry perspective, the move into television content aligns with broader trends; in October 2025, YouTube users were watching 700 million hours of podcasts on their televisions, and Spotify had redesigned its television app to incorporate video podcasts and music videos. Substack's foray into this market is driven by a strategic attempt to capture a share of the growing market, yet this approach may prove challenging, especially given the apprehension of its established user base.