Microdramas Overtake Streamers on Mobile Engagement

Microdramas are rapidly emerging as one of the fastest-scaling formats in online video. Omdia analysis of mobile usage data shows that in the US, users now spend more time per day watching microdramas on mobile apps than they do watching Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video on mobile devices.

Omdia estimates that global microdrama revenues reached $11 billion in 2025 and will grow to $14 billion by the end of 2026. Of that, $3 billion will be generated outside China, with the US now the largest international market. By 2026, the US will account for 50% of all microdrama revenues outside China, reaching $1.5 billion, underlining the format’s rapid global expansion.

“Microdramas are no longer a niche experiment. They are becoming a core driver of mobile video engagement,” said Maria Rua Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia. “What stands out is not just revenue growth, but the intensity of usage. On mobile, microdrama apps are generating more daily viewing time than the world’s biggest streaming platforms.”

Typically, one to two minutes long, vertically formatted, and mobile-first, microdramas primarily target women aged 25 to 45, though new genres are trying to reach more male and other audiences as well. Discovery is driven through platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Omdia’s analysis of 4Q25 mobile usage data from Sensor Tower shows that in the US, microdrama apps such as ReelShort generate higher daily mobile viewing time than major streaming services. While Netflix continues to lead in monthly active mobile users in the US, with around 12 million compared with 1.1 million for ReelShort, engagement intensity tells a different story.

“Microdramas are winning the battle for attention, rather than scale, at least for now,” Aguete added. “This is the metric streamers care about most as they look to grow mobile usage and compete with social video platforms where daily engagement is approaching 80 minutes.” With companies like YouTube engaging audiences on mobile devices and now on TV sets, streamers like Netflix and Disney need vertical, short-form content to drive engagement on mobile phones.

The microdrama trend is also accelerating in international markets. In the UK, for example, FlickReels generates higher daily usage than Amazon Prime Video (22.39 minutes vs. 21.47 minutes). In Mexico, DramaBox outpaces Amazon Prime Video (27.9 minutes vs. 23.8 minutes) and Disney+ (22.5 minutes).

Traditional media players are also adapting to this shift. Platforms like TelevisaUnivision’s ViX in Mexico and GloboPlay in Brazil are embedding short-form serial content within AVOD and freemium ecosystems, leveraging microdramas to boost engagement and reach. Omdia’s analysis suggests that global streamers, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, face increasing pressure to close the mobile engagement gap with social platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, where users spend nearly 80 minutes per day.

“Vertical video strategies, including microdramas, are becoming a logical next step for streamers that want to increase mobile usage without cannibalizing their long-form premium content,” Aguete concluded. “Microdramas are not replacing TV or streaming, but they are reshaping how audiences consume storytelling on mobile.”

Microdramas are also an opportunity for telcos, by offering them a unique structural opportunity beyond just a content trend. These mobile-first, snackable videos are highly addictive, low-cost, and optimized for daily engagement—perfect for mobile consumption. As telcos face challenges like ARPU pressure, commoditized connectivity, churn, and heavy 5G investments, microdramas could serve as a bundled value-add, churn reduction tool, ad-funded partnership opportunity, and a data-driven engagement engine. Microdramas are reshaping mobile video consumption, creating new opportunities for telcos, streamers, and content creators alike, Omdia concluded.