Asian streamers expand microdramas and AI content

Nikkei Asia reports that major Asian streaming services, including ReelShort, Viu, and iQiyi, are boosting microdramas and AI-generated content to capture and retain audiences in a crowded regional market. The outlet reports that very short, vertical-format dramas, typically several-minute episodes and often 50-100 episodes long, have gained popularity, especially in romance genres, and that an increasing number are being produced with AI. Reporting by Nikkei Asia quotes ReelShort founder Joey Jia as saying AI is "completely changing" the competitive landscape; Nikkei Asia also reports ReelShort has doubled its AI team after rapid growth. At the APOS 2026 conference in Bali, Nikkei Asia quotes Viu CEO Janice Lee saying AI lets teams "do things faster, be more responsive to market, perhaps at a lesser cost."