Short drama licensing, end to end
Short drama licensing explained: what it is, how deals are structured, delivery materials, exclusivity, pricing and how to license vertical drama IP from Unisun.
What is short drama licensing?
Short drama licensing is the acquisition of streaming, mobile, FAST or broadcast rights to short-form vertical dramas from a copyright holder. A typical title runs 60-120 episodes of 60-90 seconds shot in 9:16, designed for mobile consumption and binge engagement. Licensees use these titles to fill premium short-form slots, drive subscriber acquisition, and monetise ad inventory without commissioning original production.
Unisun is the sole copyright holder of every title in its catalogue, produced in-house across regional hubs in 40+ languages. This means clean chain-of-title, fast onboarding, and the ability to grant true exclusivity without third-party clearances.
How 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.
Who licenses from Unisun
Streaming platforms, telcos and MNOs, FAST channels, social and short-video apps, broadcasters, and brands building owned content destinations. See tailored solutions:
Frequently asked
What is short drama licensing?
Short drama licensing is the practice of acquiring streaming, mobile, FAST or broadcast rights to short-form vertical dramas — typically 60 to 120 episodes of 60-90 seconds each — from a copyright holder. Platforms, telcos and broadcasters license titles to fill premium short-form slots without commissioning original production.
How much does it cost to license a short drama?
Per-title license fees for premium vertical short 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 reduce the effective per-title cost. Pricing scales with territory, exclusivity, window length and whether dubs and subtitles are included.
What deal structures are available?
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.
What rights are included in a standard license?
Standard licenses cover streaming, mobile, embeddable player and FAST or linear rights for an agreed territory and window. Theatrical, format remake and merchandising rights are negotiated separately.
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.
Is exclusivity available?
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 and languages are available?
Romance, CEO, revenge, werewolf, billionaire, family and supernatural genres 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 titles are released each month?
Unisun produces 100+ new vertical short dramas every month across its regional production hubs, giving licensees a continuous pipeline of fresh content rather than a static catalogue.
Who typically licenses short dramas from Unisun?
Streaming platforms, telcos and MNOs, FAST channels, social and short-video apps, broadcasters, and brands building owned content destinations.
How do I start a licensing conversation?
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.
Let's talk.
Tell us about your audience. We'll send a tailored proposal.
- Company
- HONG KONG UNISUN GROUP
- licensing@unisunhk.com
- Response
- Within 24 business hours