{"id":9250,"date":"2026-04-01T09:59:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T04:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/how-to-monetize-vertical-microdrama-in-the-us\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T09:59:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T04:59:20","slug":"how-to-monetize-vertical-microdrama-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/how-to-monetize-vertical-microdrama-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Monetize Vertical Microdrama in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div wp_automatic_readability=\"95.806258790436\">\n<p><div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"z8f9US3fm28\"><iframe title=\"How to Monetize Vertical Microdrama in the US\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z8f9US3fm28?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even as the buzz builds around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/Post\/Blog\/Why-Microdramas-are-a-Streaming-Media-Opportunity-174103.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"vertical microdrama\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vertical microdrama<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and more and more content, innovation, and creativity flow into this new storytelling mode, how to make it profitable remains an open question. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/grace-ge-gao\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Celestine Pictures founder and executive producer Grace Gao\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celestine Pictures founder and executive producer Grace Gao<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> discusses its origins in China, its transition to\u00a0 America, persisting quality\/quantity disparities, the emergence of a few successful brands, the monetization and distribution models that will sustain and grow the industry as a whole, and how the interest of major platforms like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/News\/Online-Video-News\/Netflix-Ramps-Up-Ad-Suite-173775.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"netflix ramps up ad suite\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Netflix<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will impact vertical content creators in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/News\/Online-Video-News\/Vertical-Leap-Growing-the-Free-Vertical-Drama-Business-at-Streaming-Media-Connect-173716.aspx\" title=\"vertical video business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discussion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chrispfaff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Chris Pfaff\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chris Pfaff<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in this clip from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/News\/Online-Video-News\/ICYMI-Streaming-Media-Connect-February-2026-173683.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Streaming Media Connect 2026\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Streaming Media Connect 2026<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Tracking Trends in China\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pfaff starts the conversation by noting that the vertical drama business isn\u2019t new; it comes from Asia. He asks Gao, \u201cWhat do you see in terms of either the transliteration or the transfer of some of this IP into the American market?\u201d And he wonders if it\u2019s too late for the US to benefit, or \u201care we just in such early days that it doesn\u2019t matter?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think it all goes back to the monetization model that could be enhanced over time,\u201d Gao replies. She describes the trend cycle: Basically, microdrama is a medium from China, and any new trend is on a 3\u20135-year time lag to get to the US market. Branded content collaboration has been happening in China since 2021, so it\u2019s getting to the US now. Gao says the benefit of microdrama becoming a mainstream medium for audiences is that when companies want to draw in new demographics for their brand, they can use it to expand their base. Or they can continue in the same branding direction and enhance how they target their preferred group, as, for example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reelshort.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ReelShort\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ReelShort<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> does, she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Quantity First, Then Quality<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo then the benefit is also bringing in different sides of investment coming from the commercial and branding side of the business outside of traditional film and TV to elevate the value of this medium altogether,\u201d Gao continues. \u201cWe have observed not only from [the] commercial [sector], but also getting more [from the] tech sector or even educational sector of people who care about this newly formed aspect ratio of storytelling, to commission and sponsor more materials and distribute it to the existing platforms could be a way to [approach] that as well.\u201d She describes how microdrama embodies the first step of introducing international IP, which is \u201clocalizing and translating from hit shows or hit materials from China.\u201d It\u2019s important to concentrate on content volume first for a new platform, Gao asserts. Quality comes second.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd we are at this tipping point here in the States,\u201d Gao believes. \u201cThe volume has already been established for the top performers like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodshort.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Goodshort\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goodshort<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [or] <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dramaboxapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"DramaBox\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DramaBox<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out there. And the newly founded domestic platforms are still playing the volume game,\u201d so once that\u2019s established, they can \u201cexperiment into [the] quality or novelty side of the business. And that\u2019s where we can get different genres and\/or different types of creatives into the space at the same time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Not Really Competitors\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhich is very exciting,\u201d Pfaff says. Netflix and YouTube have begun featuring shorts, so \u201chow does a ReelShort or a DramaBox survive this sort of convergence crisis where giant platforms might eat their niche, or do they?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gao notes that her \u201cread on that is, they do not serve the same function at all. Netflix did not need to acquire more users from people who are already subscribing to it on the phone. And then the microdrama space of apps, they started off acquiring users first. \u2026 They reversely built where the content strategy is going for them to enrich and enhance the material on the app itself. So I do not think they\u2019re conflicting, but it is a really good sign that these bigger streamers are looking into the format. It means like, okay, everyone one day will be consuming it on mobile,\u201d she explains.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Conferences\/Connect2026-May\/Default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Join us May 12\u201314, 2026 for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media Connect 2026! Registration is open!\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join us May 12\u201314, 2026 for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media Connect 2026! Registration is open!<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"cta_magazine_subscription_wrap\">\n<div class=\"cta_magazine_subscription\">\n<div class=\"cta_magazine_subscription_img\">\n<!--            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dzceab466r34n.cloudfront.net\/Images\/SiteImages\/168775-2025-Cover-Images---April-2025-ORG.png\" alt=\"Streaming Covers\">--><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dzceab466r34n.cloudfront.net\/Images\/SiteImages\/457665-2026-Cover-Images-ORG.png\" alt=\"Streaming Covers\"\/>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript>Please enable JavaScript to view the <a href=\"https:\/\/disqus.com\/?ref_noscript\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">comments powered by Disqus.<\/a><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n            Related Articles&#13;<br \/>\n            &#13;\n        <\/p>\n<section class=\"article_grid\" wp_automatic_readability=\"37.53125\">&#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article_grid_single\" wp_automatic_readability=\"24.115384615385\">\n<div>\n                <a id=\"MainContentPlaceHolder_ctl01_ctl00_rptArticles_lnkImageLink_0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/Post\/Blog\/Why-Microdramas-Are-a-Streaming-Media-Opportunity-174103.aspx?utm_source=related_articles&amp;utm_medium=gutenberg&amp;utm_campaign=editors_selection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dzceab466r34n.cloudfront.net\/Images\/ArticleImages\/457865-fake-dating-ORG.png\"\/><\/a>\n            <\/div>\n<h3>&#13;<br \/>\n                <a id=\"MainContentPlaceHolder_ctl01_ctl00_rptArticles_lnkArticleTitle_0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/Post\/Blog\/Why-Microdramas-Are-a-Streaming-Media-Opportunity-174103.aspx?utm_source=related_articles&amp;utm_medium=gutenberg&amp;utm_campaign=editors_selection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Microdramas Are a Streaming Media Opportunity<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                Just because microdramas are being viewed on mobile devices doesn&#8217;t mean that they&#8217;re not a streaming media opportunity.&#13;\n            <\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                &#13;<br \/>\n                <span class=\"article_date\">&#13;<br \/>\n                    27 Mar 2026<\/span>&#13;\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article_grid_single\" wp_automatic_readability=\"37.268656716418\">\n<div>\n                <a id=\"MainContentPlaceHolder_ctl01_ctl00_rptArticles_lnkImageLink_1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/News\/Online-Video-News\/Vertical-Leap-Growing-the-Free-Vertical-Drama-Business-at-Streaming-Media-Connect-173716.aspx?utm_source=related_articles&amp;utm_medium=gutenberg&amp;utm_campaign=editors_selection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dzceab466r34n.cloudfront.net\/Images\/ArticleImages\/457491-thu5-cms-ORG.jpg\"\/><\/a>\n            <\/div>\n<h3>&#13;<br \/>\n                <a id=\"MainContentPlaceHolder_ctl01_ctl00_rptArticles_lnkArticleTitle_1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.streamingmedia.com\/Articles\/News\/Online-Video-News\/Vertical-Leap-Growing-the-Free-Vertical-Drama-Business-at-Streaming-Media-Connect-173716.aspx?utm_source=related_articles&amp;utm_medium=gutenberg&amp;utm_campaign=editors_selection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vertical Leap: Growing the Free Vertical Drama Business at Streaming Media Connect<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                On Thursday, February 26, at Streaming Media Connect, the panel &#8220;Vertical Leap: Growing the Free Vertical Drama Business at Streaming Media Connect&#8221; 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Celestine Pictures founder and executive producer Grace Gao discusses its origins in China, its transition to\u00a0 America, persisting quality\/quantity disparities, the emergence of a [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-live-session"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paknews.centers.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}