RECEIPT #MIKE-S
JAN 06, 2026
PREDICTION BY
Mike Shields“Reels will struggle on TV. I’m not sure if Reels has enough creator traction to entice people to watch them on TV. Plus, in YouTube’s case - the company is able to use the core, long-form YouTube app to funnel CTV viewers to YouTube Shorts. That’s something Reels won’t have, since Meta is largely absent from TV.”
FOLLOW-UP
As of mid-2026, there is no significant public evidence of Reels gaining strong traction on CTV, consistent with Shields' prediction. Outcome is evolving as the year progresses.