Vertical Microdrama Is Taking Asia and the US by Storm. The Next Video Trend Is Beginning to Emerge in Poland
micro-seriale
Łukasz Wysocki
Sopot, 28 maja 2026
The rapid growth of vertical microdrama and smartphone-first content was one of the emerging trends discussed during the PIKE 2026 Spring Conference in Sopot. Having already experienced explosive growth across Asia and the United States, the format is now beginning to gain traction in Poland.
Microdrama consists of short-form scripted series produced in a vertical format specifically for mobile viewing. Individual episodes typically last from several seconds to just a few minutes, while complete productions can include dozens or even hundreds of episodes.
The format is built around fast-paced storytelling, strong emotional hooks and almost continuous cliffhangers designed to encourage viewers to immediately watch the next episode. Storylines frequently revolve around romance, betrayal, family conflict, revenge and aspirational lifestyles, making microdrama a modern, mobile-first evolution of the traditional soap opera. Unlike conventional streaming services, these productions are designed for quick, daily smartphone consumption, often following a highly addictive “just one more episode” viewing model.
MediaSpurs invited global research and analytics company Omdia to discuss the growing influence of vertical short-form content on the future of television, streaming platforms and the way younger audiences consume video.
“Until recently, many people viewed vertical microdrama as little more than an unusual trend coming out of Asia. Today, the segment is expanding rapidly not only in the United States but is also becoming increasingly visible in Poland, both in app download figures and mobile video consumption data,” commented Łukasz Wysocki, Managing Director of MediaSpurs.
The trend is also reflected in Nielsen’s mobile video audience data for Poland. ReelShort, one of the world’s leading microdrama platforms, has already reached mobile viewing levels comparable to X (formerly Twitter) and is beginning to appear alongside the largest video and streaming platforms in the market.
“The Polish microdrama market is still at a very early stage of development, with audiences primarily using international platforms that have not yet been localised. However, according to Omdia’s analysis based on Sensor Tower data, daily usage of microdrama applications in Poland has doubled over the past 12 months. If local investment in original content begins to emerge, microdrama could become one of the key drivers of vertical video growth in Poland over the coming years,” said Tony Gunnarsson, Senior Principal Analyst, TV, Video & Advertising at Omdia.
Łukasz Wysocki & Tony Gunnarsson at PIKE conference 2026
The discussion also explored how the rapid growth of vertical microdrama is beginning to influence the strategies of television operators and streaming platforms. In Asia, several operators and platforms have already integrated microdrama applications into their content offerings and subscription packages, recognising the format as a new way to attract younger audiences. According to the panellists, the market is expanding at such a pace that similar developments could begin to emerge across Europe within the next few years.
The discussion took place during the PIKE 2026 Spring Conference in Sopot, one of the leading events for the telecommunications and media industries in Europe.
Sources:
Nielsen, Smartphone Telemetry Panel, Online Video Audience Measurement via Home Internet Network, May 2026, AMR, All 4+.
Omdia analysis of Sensor Tower data, Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2026.
