Since its first launching in 2010, Instagram has made tremendous efforts in becoming one of the top most patronized social media platforms. Furthermore, this photo and video sharing app has attracted both personal users and business owners to establish a presence in its platform. 

Instagram is arguably the social media platform with the highest number of digital networking, digital marketing and online advertisement. Although it is not suitable for industries that don’t need photos and videos for marketing, such as the book industry and B2B. 

It however, offers a large audience with emphasis on users within 20–35 years old. Years ago, the most disturbing feature in Instagram is their rule of uploading videos with a total length of 3–60 seconds. 
How Long Do IGTV Videos Stay Online?
Frankly speaking, it is very difficult to make a one minute video that would be very captivating for your audience. Most of the time, an Instagram creator would be forced to trim his/her more than one minute video. And in doing so, might trim off the interesting part. Although people’s attention span is getting shorter as the years go by and long videos are said to be a bore, too short videos are usually uninformative. 

The introduction of the Instagram TV in 2018 came as a saving grace. Instagram TV was created by Instagram’s former CEO, Kevin Systrom, as a feature to extend the length of videos uploaded on Instagram and also increase its quality. 

 This independent app allows videos that are more than a minute in length to be uploaded. In fact, videos that have a total length of 10 minutes to 30 minutes can be uploaded on Instagram TV. Furthermore, like YouTube, for you to upload on Instagram TV, you must create an IGTV channel. In addition to this, your Instagram account will be automatically connected with your IGTV channel.

How long will my IGTV video stay online before it disappears?

One of the many advantages of the Instagram TV is the length of time videos posted in it will last before it disappears. Although still under speculation, IGTV users have confirmed that the movies they post online haven’t disappeared. This has made people to conclude that like YouTube, Instagram videos will not disappear until whomever posted it deletes it through his or her account. 

Now, I will explain in detailthe many benefits of Instagram TV. Note, however, that Instagram TV is very different from Instagram live videos which disappear within 24 hours. However, Instagram has added another feature that will enable its users to share their live videos to their IGTV channel. This in turn will not disappear until the owner of the Instagram TV deletes it.

Benefits of IGTV

  • Vertical format videos: Instagram TV videos are displayed in vertical formats. Unlike Its competitors, Instagram TV does not accept any videos that aren’t made in vertical format. Also, it does not have a feature that allows a video to be played in the horizontal format.
  • Long length videos: like I mentioned earlier, Instagram gives its users a chance to upload more than oneminute video through IGTV. The total length of these videos must be between 10 minutes to 30 minutes. However, some accounts, like Instagram verified accounts are allowed to upload up to 60 minutesworth of video length.
  • IGTV videos last for a long time: this is to say that any video posted on IGTV will last for a long time before it disappears. In fact, since nobody has complained that his/her Instagram videos have gone missing since Instagram TV came into existence about 2 years ago. It is safe to assume that your IGTV videos will not disappear until you delete it. This is exactly what YouTube does.
  • Can be assessed through 3 different means: although Instagram TV is an independent app, it can be assessed through the internet by visiting Instagram’s main website (www.Instagram.com) or through Instagram app or finally, through Instagram TV app.

How to create a channel and use Instagram TV through Instagram app and IGTV app

  • Download the Instagram app through your phone’s app store. After that, enable and install in your phone
  • Login to your Instagram account.
  • Go to Instagram TV and open the app. You do not have to sign in or login into this app if you followed step 1 and 2 judiciously. This is because your Instagram account will automatically open in the Instagram TV app.
  • When this happens, click the gear button on the top right of the screen.
  • Next, click on create channel and start posting interesting videos.

How to create a channel and use Instagram TV by using only the Instagram app.

  • Download and install Instagram app on your phone.
  • Type in your username and password to log into your account.
  • When you are logged in, click on the search button at the top of your screen.
  • Click on the Instagram TV icon that will appear.
  • Follow the easy steps that will appear to guide you in creating and using IGTV.

How to post videos on Instagram TV

  • Record your video vertically: remember that Instagram TV does not accept horizontal format videos. Although horizontal videos can be uploaded in Instagram feed, with a very narrow or small viewing. However, it will be in your best interest if you upload videos in vertical format.
  • Export video to your camera roll: this is because Instagram TV only sees videos that are located in the camera roll. If your video is in WhatsApp videos or downloads, please export to camera roll before going to IGTV app.
  • Create an image cover from the video: this can be done using photo editing apps or by using a still image from then video.
  • Add video title and description: the video title space contains up to 75 characters while the description box can contain as much as 2,200 characters.
  • Upload your video: remember to check for the cover image, video title and video description before uploading.