Microdrama in the Middle East and Africa
Reports on vertical drama in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa: platforms, distribution deals, producers and audiences, newest first.
- Orange brings ReelShort to Max it TV in 17 African and Middle Eastern markets
Orange Middle East and Africa signed a multi-year deal with ReelShort's parent Crazy Maple Studio. Four markets launch in 2026, with access through a dedicated mobile data bundle.
- Snap-commissioned Ipsos study says short-drama viewers on Snapchat spend over $50 a month
A survey of 3,000 daily social media users in the US, UK and Saudi Arabia, commissioned by Snap Inc. from Ipsos, reports that Snapchat users spend more than $50 a month on average on short-drama platforms.
- Mediaset España puts six acquired Turkish vertical series on Mediaset Infinity
The Spanish broadcaster entered vertical microdrama by licensing six Turkish titles from MADD and GAIN rather than commissioning its own, placing them inside its existing streaming service.
- Amavizion prices a 45-minute vertical season at £1.49, paid once
The UK pay-per-view service launched Shambles on 15 July: 36 episodes, 45 minutes in total, sold outright rather than unlocked episode by episode with coins.
- Five new entrants, including a distressed pivot out of real-money gaming
Lighthouse Verticals, İki Dakika, StoReel, ThumFlix and Vertical TV join the field. Inc42 reported that Zupee bought Vertical TV for under ₹40 crore, about $4.5m, weeks after around 200 layoffs.