BBC Sport integrates short-form video into mobile app update
The BBC Sport application now features a dedicated tab for vertical video content, marking a structural adjustment to its digital offering in response to industry trends.
BBC Sport has introduced a new 'Shorts' tab within its mobile application, designed to deliver short-form, vertical video content directly to users. The feature, accessible via app version 9.12.1 on Apple and Android devices, includes highlights, breaking news, explainers, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and features. Users can configure the app settings to make the Shorts feed the default screen upon launch, although the 'Home' and 'My Sport' tabs remain available.
The initial version of the feature is curated by the BBC Sport editorial team rather than being algorithmically generated. This approach aligns with the broadcaster’s emphasis on providing trusted journalism and expert analysis, distinguishing its offering from the algorithm-driven models prevalent on other social media platforms. The move responds to the growing dominance of short-form video in sports consumption, with more fans following sport through this medium than ever before.
BBC Sport already distributes video content across various social media platforms, where millions of users watch videos weekly. The new Shorts feature brings this content front and centre of the BBC Sport app, giving users instant access to the latest stories, moments, and talking points from across the sporting world. The format is described as full-screen, vertical, and easy to scroll through, mirroring the style familiar to users of other major social media platforms.
The launch of Shorts reflects a broader industry trend where major platforms utilise short-form, scrollable video formats to engage audiences. By integrating this format directly into its own application, BBC Sport aims to adapt to how audiences increasingly consume content daily. The broadcaster states that the feature is designed to offer something a little different, combining the best of its reporting, storytelling, highlights, and analysis in a format tailored for modern consumption habits.
While the source material highlights the immediate availability of the feature, it does not specify the timeline for future updates or the introduction of algorithmic curation beyond the current editorial curation. It is also unclear if the feature will be rolled out to other BBC platforms beyond the mobile app in the immediate future. The broadcaster notes that this is the first version of Shorts, ensuring a consistent experience for all users during the initial rollout.
