Microdrama-O-Rama

This Is How Vertical Television Will Be Revolutionized

Happy Monday Peaceniks. Ready to go vertical‽

I am vocally on the record calling out the Microdrama business model as “bullshit.” The model that sparked the Microdrama movement is personified by the massive market leader, ReelShort: pay-as-you-go, lootbox storytelling, adapted from gaming apps by those same designers.

My first critique is that the content is crap. My next is that their producers treat artists and crew like livestock. My last issue is that unless you have billions to spend, and/or are backed by the Chinese government, THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS MODEL.

Last year, based on numerous sources, ReelShort generated $1.3 billion in revenue - primarily through in-app sales of pay-more-to-see-more packages. They spent the same amount, $1.3 billion, to acquire the customers needed to generate that revenue. This is not organic growth; this is paid acquisition marketing. Churn is their business. They are a massive spender on social media CPI marketing, at higher and higher CACs. That is…