Hartbeat Signed Vertical Series Deal With Fox
The partnership aims to develop new intellectual property for film and television through short-form video projects.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Television
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Hartbeat has entered into a new vertical series agreement with Fox Entertainment to develop content. This collaboration will utilize short-form videos as an initial development stage for future global media projects.
Why it matters
The deal aims to identify innovative ideas within the vertical video space to transform them into mainstream television and film narratives. By leveraging short-form content, the partners hope to reach audiences through stories that resonate across different formats.
Hartbeat's portfolio of brands, which includes Codeblack, Essence, and Revolt, reaches a combined audience of over 20 million social media followers. There are currently 25 live-action titles in various stages of development under this new framework.
The players
Hartbeat
This media company operates under several subsidiary brands, including Codeblack, Essence, and Revolt.
Fox Entertainment
This major media corporation has secured first-look rights for film and television adaptations of the new vertical series.
Codeblack
This subsidiary brand is partnering with Holywater Tech to manage a branded channel on the My Drama platform.
Holywater Tech
This technology company is collaborating with Codeblack to support the launch of a branded channel on My Drama.
The details
Under the new arrangement, vertical series will debut on the platform My Drama before Fox Entertainment Global manages international distribution. Codeblack is working alongside Holywater Tech to manage the branded channel on the vertical platform.
Timeline
In 2025, Hartbeat signed a separate first-look deal with Tubi for four film projects.
On October 13, 2026, Hartbeat announced the new vertical series partnership with Fox Entertainment.
Industry Dynamics
The use of the vertical video platform My Drama facilitates the incubation of content that traditional studios then scale into larger productions. This strategy represents a significant shift in how legacy media companies adapt to the rising influence of short-form social video.
Viewers can expect to see new vertical series content launching on the My Drama platform in the near future. This partnership expands the availability of these specific creative projects across worldwide distribution channels managed by Fox.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates how studios are increasingly using short-form mobile content as a testing ground for potential blockbuster franchises. Readers can look for these new series to bridge the gap between niche online audiences and wider streaming audiences.
Further reading
For more on the current state of industry production shifts, see Television.
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