Micro-drama licensing, end to end
Micro-drama licensing explained: what a micro-drama is, how deals are structured, delivery materials, exclusivity, pricing and how to license micro-drama (also called short drama or vertical drama) IP from Unisun.
What is a micro-drama?
A micro-drama — also written microdrama or micro drama, and used interchangeably with short drama, vertical drama and mini drama — is a mobile-first serialised drama of 60 to 120 episodes, each 60-90 seconds long, shot in 9:16 vertical format for smartphone consumption. Episodes end on cliffhangers optimised for scroll behaviour, and full series run 90 to 180 minutes of total runtime.
Terminology varies by region: micro-drama and microdrama are more common in North America and Europe, short drama is dominant across Asia, and vertical drama is used interchangeably in the trade press. Unisun licenses all of them — same catalogue, same format, same deal structures.
What micro-drama licensing means
Micro-drama licensing is the acquisition of streaming, mobile, FAST or broadcast rights to vertical micro-dramas from a copyright holder. Platforms use licensed micro-dramas to fill premium short-form slots, drive subscriber acquisition, monetise ad inventory and reduce reliance on expensive original commissions. Unisun is the sole copyright holder of every title in its catalogue, produced in-house across regional hubs in 40+ languages, which means clean chain-of-title, fast onboarding, and true exclusivity without third-party clearances.
How micro-drama licensing deals are structured
- Flat per-title fee — fixed payment for a defined territory, window and exclusivity level.
- Minimum guarantee + revenue share — upfront MG recouped against ad or subscription revenue, then ongoing share.
- Pure revenue share — available for trusted AVOD and telco partners with transparent reporting.
- Bulk catalogue / output deals — lowest effective per-title cost; ideal for platforms needing continuous volume.
Delivery materials & timelines
Vertical 9:16 and horizontal 16:9 masters, episode metadata (CSV or XML), key art, trailers, English subtitles, and dubs or subtitles in 40+ languages on request. Masters ship via Aspera, S3 or hard drive within 7-14 days of contract signature.
Related resources
Frequently asked
What is a micro-drama?
A micro-drama (also written microdrama or micro drama, and used interchangeably with short drama and vertical drama) is a mobile-first serialised drama of 60 to 120 episodes, each 60-90 seconds long, shot in 9:16 vertical format for smartphone consumption. Micro-dramas are designed for binge engagement inside dedicated apps, social platforms, telco VAS bundles and FAST channels.
Is 'micro-drama' the same as 'short drama' or 'vertical drama'?
Yes. Micro-drama, microdrama, short drama, vertical drama and mini drama all describe the same format — 60-90 second serialised episodes shot vertically for mobile. Terminology varies by region: 'micro-drama' and 'microdrama' are more common in North America and Europe, 'short drama' is used across Asia and by most Chinese studios, and 'vertical drama' is used interchangeably in the trade press.
What is micro-drama licensing?
Micro-drama licensing is the acquisition of streaming, mobile, FAST or broadcast rights to vertical micro-dramas from a copyright holder. Streaming platforms, telcos, broadcasters and AVOD services license titles to fill premium short-form slots without commissioning original production.
How much does it cost to license a micro-drama?
Per-title license fees for premium micro-dramas range from a few thousand USD for non-exclusive AVOD windows to mid five figures for multi-territory exclusive SVOD rights. Bulk catalogue and output deals lower the effective per-title cost. Pricing scales with territory, exclusivity, window length and whether dubs and subtitles are included.
What deal structures are available for micro-drama licensing?
Flat per-title fee, minimum guarantee plus revenue share, pure revenue share for trusted partners, and bulk catalogue or output deals. AVOD partners and telcos commonly use ad-share or VAS subscriber-share models.
How long is a typical micro-drama?
A typical micro-drama runs 60 to 120 episodes of 60-90 seconds each — roughly 90 to 180 minutes of total runtime, structured to end each episode on a cliffhanger optimised for mobile scroll behaviour.
What delivery materials does Unisun provide?
Vertical 9:16 and horizontal 16:9 masters, episode metadata in CSV or XML, key art and trailers, English subtitles, and dubs or subtitles in 40+ languages on request. Masters ship via Aspera, S3 or hard drive within 7-14 days of contract.
Can I get exclusive rights to a micro-drama?
Yes. Unisun offers territory-exclusive, language-exclusive and platform-exclusive windows. Because Unisun is the sole copyright holder of every title produced in-house, chain-of-title is clean and exclusivity can be granted without third-party clearances.
Which genres of micro-drama are available?
Romance, CEO, revenge, werewolf, billionaire, family, supernatural and reincarnation storylines dominate the catalogue. Titles are produced locally in 40+ languages across 8 regions including North America, LATAM, EMEA, MENA, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Japan and Korea.
How many new micro-dramas are released each month?
Unisun produces 100+ new vertical micro-dramas every month across its regional production hubs, giving licensees a continuous pipeline of fresh content rather than a static catalogue.
How do I start a micro-drama licensing conversation with Unisun?
Send a brief describing target territory, language, exclusivity needs and expected volume. Unisun returns a tailored catalogue slate, pricing and delivery timeline within a few business days.
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- Company
- HONG KONG UNISUN GROUP
- licensing@unisunhk.com
- Response
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