ReelShort Expanded Across Southeast Asia
The mobile-first drama platform secured distribution deals with four major regional telecom operators.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Business Strategy
Live Poll
Do you plan to watch more short-form video dramas on your phone instead of traditional TV?
ReelShort has officially expanded its vertical drama platform into Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The company successfully partnered with leading telecom providers Singtel, Telkomsel, Globe, and AIS to reach new audiences.
Why it matters
By leveraging existing subscriber networks, ReelShort aims to capture rapid growth in the mobile-first entertainment sector. The expansion targets high-engagement markets to scale its presence in the emerging micro-drama industry.
The partnerships provide access to a combined base of 275 million mobile connections across the four operators. The ex-China micro-drama market is projected to reach US$9.5 billion by 2031.
The players
ReelShort
This is a mobile-first vertical drama platform that specializes in short-form episodic content.
AR Global Media Network
This entity acted as the exclusive distribution representative responsible for brokering the regional telecom partnerships.
Singtel
This is a major Singapore-based telecommunications provider that hosts ReelShort on its CAST platform.
Telkomsel
This is an Indonesian mobile operator serving a massive subscriber base of approximately 150 million users.
AIS
This is a leading telecommunications company in Thailand that serves over 47 million subscribers.
The details
AR Global Media Network brokered these agreements, which facilitate ReelShort's launch on platforms such as Singtel CAST and Telkomsel. The collaboration with AIS alone has already reached over 8 million subscriptions.
Timeline
April 2026: ReelShort launched its partnership with AIS in Thailand.
June 2026: ReelShort established its partnership with Globe in the Philippines.
2026: The platform earned a Gold award at the ContentAsia Awards.
2026: The micro-drama market reached an estimated value of US$3.6 billion.
2031: The industry is projected to hit US$9.5 billion in total value.
Market Landscape
This move aligns with the rapid expansion of the global micro-drama sector, which has grown from US$2.7 billion in 2025 to US$3.6 billion this year. By securing these partnerships, the company is positioning itself to capture a significant portion of the projected US$9.5 billion market by 2031.
Customers in these four markets gain direct access to ReelShort's vertical drama library through their existing mobile service providers. This partnership model simplifies content access by integrating the platform directly into current telecom subscription plans.
The takeaway
The success of these partnerships highlights the growing efficacy of integrating niche digital streaming services into established regional telecom ecosystems. Platforms looking to scale internationally can replicate this model by prioritizing existing high-density mobile subscriber networks.
Further reading
For additional context on corporate expansion trends, explore our Business Strategy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Television Asia Plus.
Live Poll
Do you plan to watch more short-form video dramas on your phone instead of traditional TV?
