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[TheGuroo=Reporter Jin Yujin] CJ ENM has partnered with Taiwan’s largest media group, CATCHPLAY, to pursue the vertical short-form drama market. With mobile-first consumption surging, the move appears aimed at claiming the premium short-form space by raising production values beyond the low-budget microdrama model.
On the 21st, CJ ENM signed a licensing agreement with CATCHPLAY to distribute hundreds of hours of vertical-format K-drama content. The deal is part of a global new-business initiative CATCHPLAY launched to mark the 10th anniversary of its OTT service, CATCHPLAY+. The company plans to create dedicated vertical-content zones in Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore and expand its slate of Korean titles.
CATCHPLAY is accelerating its vertical-drama push as mobile-based short-form viewing grows across Asia. Rather than lean on quick consumption and sensational twists, the platform is positioning “premium vertical content” — short-form stories that prioritize polished storytelling and cinematic visuals — as its next growth engine. It picked CJ ENM as its supply and distribution partner.
CJ ENM, for its part, has been fast-tracking a global IP expansion. After underscoring its international IP competitiveness at this year’s “2026 Visionary” event, the company is tightening a multiplatform strategy across scripted drama, variety programming and OTT. Analysts say the partnership could broaden K-drama distribution touchpoints in Southeast Asia and Greater China while serving as a testing ground for new short-form formats.
Vertical dramas are rapidly evolving from simple short-form clips into global IP businesses. China’s vertical-drama market has already grown explosively, intensifying competition among major platforms, and the format is spreading to Southeast Asia and North America. Lower production costs and strong potential to increase mobile engagement have made the format attractive to global streamers.
Daphne Yang, CEO of the CATCHPLAY Group, said vertical storytelling is evolving quickly. “We want narratives that are lighter and faster paced than long-form dramas, while delivering storytelling quality well above conventional microdramas,” she said, adding that CATCHPLAY will share its vision for premium vertical content growth with its Korean partners.
The project also involves SLL, domestic vertical-content platform Sero, and content company b.able. Screenworks Asia, CATCHPLAY’s production subsidiary, and SLL will co-produce vertical dramas targeting Chinese-language markets, aiming to blend Taiwanese emotional storytelling with Korean genre direction, visual aesthetics and production systems, with a focus on urban fantasy.
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