Do you realise people used to consume a lot of media on their phones vertically... but now they don't... for obvious reaons.
That can't be that hard to understand? Market changed. Previously valid opportunity vanished. They didn't do anything wrong but be around at the wrong time.
Because all other viewing scenarios still exist even with the pandemic.
Vertical video means you just put the phone the same way it always is, and everyone can see everything from floor to ceiling.
And No, what you say is not how any of the video services work. Pandemic or not, the largest selection of videos are 16:9.
Quibi bet the house on a mobile-only portrait videos In 10 minute chapters. You claim there was a market for that - but give no evidence.
There isn’t a broad market for that niche offering!
"Don't be hapless" is good advice, and at least one thing that Quibi did wrong is not follow that.
A 10 minute Quibi episode is already half the length of a standard sitcom with ads (20 mins). It's not meant to be skippable. There really wasn't a need to make it portrait mode.
Look at how much grief Hulu got from users for being "paid but still with ads" for so long before at least adding the option to remove the ads, and then question how smart these other companies who think "paid but still with ads" is a great plan. Sure, you can get users with that model, but you do it if you have content that's compelling enough in spite of it, it doesn't help.