Substack Launches TV App as Platform Expands Push Into Video

Substack is moving into the living room with the launch of a new beta TV app, the company announced Thursday.

The app, available on Apple TV and Google TV, allows subscribers to watch video posts and livestreams from their favorite creators on a larger screen. The move effectively transforms the newsletter-focused service into a streaming platform, marking a significant expansion for a company that has increasingly prioritized video content over the last two years.

“Substack is the home for the best long-form work creators put real care into and subscribers choose to spend time with,” the company said in its announcement. “Now these thought-provoking videos and livestreams have a natural home on the TV.”

The interface includes a “For You” row that uses algorithms to recommend videos, alongside dedicated pages for individual creators. Access to content remains tied to a user’s existing subscription level; if a creator restricts a video to paying subscribers on the mobile app, those same restrictions apply on the TV.

Substack plans to expand the app’s features in the coming months, including the addition of audio posts, "read-aloud" versions of written articles, and the ability to upgrade to paid subscriptions directly through the TV interface.

The shift toward television has drawn praise from some high-profile creators. Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, who hosts a daily show on the platform, called the launch a “game-changing moment for the rise of independent media.”

However, the pivot has also faced pushback from some longtime users and writers who argue the platform is moving too far away from its text-based roots. In comments on the company’s blog, some users expressed concern that the focus on video and algorithmic feeds mimics the mechanics of platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Substack first introduced native video posts in 2022 and added livestreaming capabilities last year. The company says the TV app is designed to support “lean-back” viewing for the kind of deep-dive interviews and long-form series that creators are already producing.

Users can sign into the new app by scanning a QR code on their television screen using the Substack mobile app.