This Week in Vertical Issue 2026-w41
This Week in Vertical — 5–11 October 2026
6 reports on the vertical-drama business dated 5–11 October 2026, each labelled with the basis it rests on and linked to its sources.
The lead
- COL Group drops its RMB 2.83bn share placement and its Hong Kong listing plan
The Shenzhen-listed parent of FlareFlow ended a private placement eight days after proposing it, and separately ended its planned H-share listing in Hong Kong. The placement plan cited AI short drama.
- Dentsu survey: 8% of French respondents watch microdramas
Dentsu's Entertainment Spotlight 2026, released ahead of Mipcom, found that one in five consumers across 12 markets watch microdramas. Satellifacts reported the French share at 8%.
- Dentsu: 62% of microdrama viewers watch for more than an hour per session
The microdrama chapter of Dentsu's Entertainment Spotlight 2026 reports that one in five consumers across 12 markets watch the format, with DramaBox, My Drama and ReelShort the most-subscribed platforms.
More this week
Content & AI
- A+E Global Media puts microseries at centre of distribution plan ahead of Mipcom
A+E Global Media said almost 200 of its programmes have been reformatted as microseries for third-party licensing, and that it plans seven original vertical series for the Lifetime app by the end of 2026.
Europe
- French group JLA launches JLA Play, a platform for vertical series
JLA Groupe has launched JLA Play, a platform dedicated to vertical series, with more than 50 titles at launch, Ecran Total reported on 8 October 2026.
- LumoTV opens commissioning round that accepts deaf-led vertical drama pitches
UK streamer LumoTV opened a drama commissioning round on 5 October 2026 that accepts microdrama and vertical-drama formats. It says it aims to make the UK's first deaf vertical drama. Submissions close on 13 November 2026.
Regulation tracker
EU Digital Fairness Act (proposed)
- 5 October 2026A European Parliamentary Research Service briefing says the proposal is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, with current information pointing to mid-November.