Substack TV App Expands Beyond Newsletters

Substack TV app is officially here, marking a major expansion for the newsletter-first platform as it steps into the living room. Known for empowering writers and independent creators, Substack has now launched a beta TV app for Apple TV and Google TV, allowing subscribers to watch video posts and livestreams directly on their televisions.

The Substack TV app represents a major evolution for the platform as it moves beyond newsletters into long-form video and livestreaming. With the Substack TV app now available on Apple TV and Google TV, creators can reach audiences in a more immersive, living-room viewing experience while maintaining their subscription-based model.

How the Substack TV App Works on Apple TV and Google TV

The new TV app brings Substack’s growing video ecosystem to a larger screen, featuring a TikTok-style “For You” row that highlights videos from creators across the platform. Subscribers can also browse recommended videos based on their interests and subscriptions.

Both free and paid subscribers can access the app, though viewing options depend on subscription tiers. Substack has confirmed that paid content previews for free users are planned, alongside future additions such as audio posts, read-aloud features, improved search and discovery, and in-app upgrades to paid subscriptions. Dedicated creator sections will also allow viewers to explore all videos from a single publication in one place.

Why the Substack TV App Matters for Creators

This launch is part of a broader strategy. Substack began investing heavily in video back in 2022 with video posts, followed by video monetization tools and platform-wide livestreaming in 2024. In March 2025, it introduced a short-form, TikTok-like video feed within its mobile app.

With the TV app, Substack is positioning itself more directly against platforms like YouTube and Patreon, aiming to attract creators who produce long-form, thoughtful video content rather than purely short, algorithm-driven clips.

Audience Reaction to the Substack TV App Launch

Despite the company’s confidence, user reactions have been divided. Many long-time writers and subscribers worry that Substack’s growing focus on video could dilute its original mission of elevating long-form writing. Comments on the announcement blog post highlight concerns about venture capital influence and a shift away from the written word.

Still, Substack argues that TV is a natural home for immersive, long-form video and livestreams—content designed for viewers who want to spend more time with creators they trust.

As social platforms increasingly move into TV experiences—Instagram recently launched Reels viewing on Amazon Fire TV—Substack’s TV app reflects a larger trend. Whether this evolution strengthens or distracts from its writing roots remains to be seen.

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YouTube advanced captions have been temporarily disabled by Google, catching creators off guard and raising serious concerns around accessibility, transparency, and long-term platform support. The issue revolves around YouTube’s custom SRV3 caption format, a powerful subtitle system that many creators rely on for enhanced viewer experience.

Why YouTube Advanced Captions Were Disabled

YouTube introduced the SRV3 (also known as YouTube Timed Text) caption format in 2018, allowing creators to go far beyond basic subtitles. With SRV3, captions could be styled with custom fonts, colors, animations, transparency, and precise positioning on screen. This made it ideal for content with multiple speakers, music-based videos, and visually rich storytelling.

Recently, creators noticed that YouTube stopped accepting new uploads containing SRV3 captions. In many cases, videos that already used the format stopped displaying captions entirely. This led to speculation that Google had quietly discontinued the format.

Google later confirmed that support for SRV3 has not ended. Instead, YouTube advanced captions were disabled temporarily due to a bug that could interfere with video playback for some users. To prevent broader issues, Google limited the serving of SRV3 caption files while working on a fix.

How YouTube Advanced Captions Help Creators

YouTube advanced captions play a critical role in accessibility and creative control. They allow creators to visually separate speakers, synchronize lyrics in music videos, and design captions that match the tone of their content. For viewers who rely on subtitles, especially those with hearing impairments, this level of customization significantly improves comprehension.

Impact of YouTube Advanced Captions Removal on Accessibility

While Google stated that most creators use standard caption formats and remain unaffected, those who heavily invested in SRV3 workflows now face disruption. During this period, creators cannot upload new SRV3 captions, and existing videos may show no captions at all. Google also hinted that some SRV3 features may not fully return, suggesting reduced support in the future.

The lack of clear communication has added to creator frustration and raised questions about Google’s commitment to undocumented, in-house tools.

What Creators Should Do About YouTube Advanced Captions

Until full functionality is restored, creators may need to switch to basic caption formats or rely on auto-generated captions, despite their limitations. Going forward, creators should be cautious about depending on advanced but unofficial features for critical accessibility needs.

Credit: arstechnica.com

Also Read: Nova Launcher Gets a New Owner in 2026 – 5 Big Changes Including Ads

Nova Launcher is once again in the spotlight, but not for reasons longtime Android users were hoping for. After months of uncertainty and what many believed was the end of one of Android’s most iconic customization tools, Nova Launcher has returned with new updates, a new owner, and an unwelcome surprise: ads.

Nova Launcher changes hands again

Nova Launcher was previously acquired by Branch Metrics in 2022. At the time, founder and original developer Kevin Barry continued working on the project, keeping the launcher aligned with its power-user roots. That stability ended in September last year when Barry announced his departure from Branch, effectively declaring Nova “dead,” as he had been the sole active developer.

Despite this, Branch quietly pushed a few maintenance updates later in the year, fixing issues like the persistent app drawer crash. Now, ownership has officially shifted again. Nova Launcher has been acquired by Swedish company Instabridge, best known for its Wi-Fi discovery services.

Instabridge says it does not plan to radically redesign Nova Launcher overnight. Instead, it aims to keep the core experience intact while finding a sustainable business model to fund ongoing development and maintenance.

Ads arrive sooner than expected

That business model, however, is already raising concerns. Instabridge has stated that it is exploring both paid tiers and ad-supported options for free users, while promising that Nova Prime will remain ad-free. In practice, ads have already begun appearing.

According to community findings, Nova Launcher version 8.2.4 includes additional tracking frameworks, including Facebook Ads and Google AdMob. These join the Branch analytics code that was introduced in earlier updates. While not all users are seeing ads yet, the presence of these trackers suggests that ad integration is no longer theoretical.

What this means for Android users

For many fans, Nova Launcher represented the golden era of Android customization, where users had complete control over their home screens without compromises. The return of active development is welcome, but the introduction of ads and expanded tracking may push privacy-conscious users to reconsider updating or even look for alternatives.

Nova Launcher may be alive again, but its future identity now depends on how Instabridge balances sustainability with the trust of a fiercely loyal user base.

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