Soap operas made for TikTok exploding in views

Industry Trends - Traditional US TV programming budgets and interest are shrinking, while episodic vertical video consumption is exploding [1] - Micro dramas or vertical dramas are breathing new life into the content world, offering 1 to 2 minute clips with intense cliffhangers accessible on smartphones [2] - These micro dramas capture viewers who are on the go and desire something more substantial than doom scrolling on social media [3] - Short-form video platforms like TikTok and Reels, along with the changing attention economy, are interconnecting with the rise of vertical dramas [4] Market Size and Growth - In China, the micro drama industry made $6.9 billion (十亿) in revenue in 2024, surpassing the country's entire box office sales [4] - Analysts predict the US vertical streaming industry will surpass $4 billion (十亿) in revenue in 2025 [4] Strategic Implications - Brands like Telemundo are entering the vertical drama space to capture audience attention wherever they are [5] - Streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu should embrace vertical dramas to avoid becoming obsolete [6] - Vertical dramas offer a cost-effective way for creators to tell stories, costing a fraction of feature-length films and TV shows to produce [7] - Creators can potentially make $40,000 (千) a month in the vertical drama space [7]