https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/ The weekly issue of Vertical Observer: every report on the microdrama business, with its basis and sources. en https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w42/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w42/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Omdia finds men account for 54% of UK microdrama users. 10 reports, 12–18 October 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w41/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w41/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 COL Group drops its RMB 2.83bn share placement and its Hong Kong listing plan. 6 reports, 5–11 October 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w40/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w40/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 COL Group proposes RMB 2.83bn A-share placement, partly for AI short-drama rights. 14 reports, 28 September – 4 October 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w39/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w39/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 SoonShot discloses user and subscription metrics, and a reported pre-Series A. 17 reports, 21–27 September 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w38/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w38/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 PineDrama passes 100m downloads with about 7m daily users, per Sensor Tower. 18 reports, 14–20 September 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w37/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w37/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 FlexTV owner Mega Matrix sets a 1-for-20 share consolidation from 15 September. 14 reports, 7–13 September 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w36/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w36/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 French microdrama app Sweetz launches on iOS with over 1m euros in seed funding. 21 reports, 31 August – 6 September 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w35/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w35/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 COL Group short-drama revenue doubles as ReelShort stays outside its consolidated accounts. 7 reports, 24–30 August 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w34/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w34/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Kuaishou reports short-play supply up more than fivefold since January. 6 reports, 17–23 August 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w33/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w33/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 China Literature books RMB430m from short drama and says reading revenue shifted to it. 3 reports, 10–16 August 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w32/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w32/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Film producer Ambitious Entertainment files to list, naming micro-drama in its strategy. 14 reports, 3–9 August 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w31/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w31/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Capital flows to Chinese AI video while Western microdrama rounds stay small. 19 reports, 27 July – 2 August 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w30/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w30/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Holywater report puts vertical drama at $4bn outside China in 2026. 8 reports, 20–26 July 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w29/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w29/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 DataEye counts 221,900 AI dramas in H1, 0.47% past 100m views. 13 reports, 13–19 July 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w28/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w28/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Character.AI enters microdrama with c.ai Series. 3 reports, 6–12 July 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w27/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w27/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Higgsfield AI in talks for $300-500m at a $5bn pre-money valuation. 17 reports, 29 June – 5 July 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w25/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w25/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Vertical microseries enter cinema pre-shows via aTwist and National CineMedia. 1 report, 15–21 June 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w22/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w22/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 SAG-AFTRA and the studios add an unpublished sideletter covering vertical programs. 1 report, 25–31 May 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w20/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w20/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Sensor Tower acquired app-intelligence rival AppMagic in May. 1 report, 11–17 May 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w19/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w19/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 Mansa's microdrama arm filed a $2m offering, half of it sold to one investor. 1 report, 4–10 May 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w16/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w16/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 FlexTV owner Mega Matrix reports revenue down 28% and a net loss larger than sales. 1 report, 13–19 April 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w15/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w15/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 COL Group executive puts microdrama marketing above $1m against $150k-250k production. 1 report, 6–12 April 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w12/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w12/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 iQIYI's annual report puts its micro-drama library near 20,000 titles. 1 report, 16–22 March 2026. https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w07/ https://verticalobserver.com/newsletter/2026-w07/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:03 +0000 The9 signs Chengdu Lumosi for AI short drama built on TVB's The Greed of Man. 1 report, 9–15 February 2026.