TVOT SF 2026: Vertical Is the New Prime Time: How AI and Microdramas Are Rewriting Television

The entertainment industry is experiencing its biggest format shift since the emergence of streaming. While Hollywood debates shrinking production, consolidating studios, and declining television output, a new entertainment economy has quietly exploded on mobile devices. Vertical scripted series—also known as microdramas—have become one of the fastest-growing media businesses in the world, generating billions of dollars in annual revenue through serialized, mobile-first storytelling. The market is projected to grow from roughly $8 billion in 2025 to more than $14 billion by 2027, fueled by creator-driven production models, direct audience monetization, and AI-enabled workflows.

At the same time, artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how stories are conceived, produced, localized, personalized, and distributed. AI is lowering production costs, accelerating creative workflows, and opening entirely new opportunities for independent creators, brands, and emerging studios.

This session explores where these two revolutions intersect. Rather than asking whether AI will replace filmmakers, we’ll examine how AI and vertical storytelling together are creating an entirely new production ecosystem—one built for mobile audiences, creator ownership, rapid iteration, and global distribution. Panelists include:

• Curt Doty, Founder, CLOWD Film Fest (Moderator)
• Erwin More, Founding Partner, More/Medavoy Management
• Jesse Z, Founder, Storyverse AI
• Quishi Zhang, CEO, Leyline
• Sophia Xing, CEO, Plot Party
• Tony Mugavero, CEO, Rad TV