Telemundo Studios is adapting its telenovelas for mobile with short-form, vertical dramas to capture younger, digital-first audiences.
The market for vertical soap operas is booming, with average monthly revenue increasing by 12% in 2025.
The company faces competition from international players like China’s ReelShorts and Singapore’s DramaBox.
Telemundo Studios is adapting its signature telenovelas for mobile with a new slate of short-form, vertical dramas, betting on a new format to capture younger, digital-first audiences.
Chasing the boom: The market for bite-sized, vertical soap operas has exploded, with TheWrap reporting that average monthly revenue has jumped 12% in 2025. The format was largely popularized by apps like ReelShorts, creating a new and lucrative battleground for viewer attention.
Old stories, new screen: Leading the new slate is "María, Mother of God," a 25-episode series adapting the biblical love story for modern viewers. The strategy mixes new franchises with resurrected library hits like “Armas de Mujer,” with co-producer VIP 2000 TV's María Eugenia Muci confident the "fresh, fast, and emotionally powerful perspective, will resonate with new audiences."
Telemundo is making a calculated play to translate its dominance in long-form Spanish drama to the short-form vertical screen, betting its storytelling prowess can compete in a market defined by speed and mobile consumption.
In other news, Telemundo is entering a crowded global market, facing established international players like China’s ReelShorts and Singapore’s DramaBox. The move also leans into a specific niche, as Telemundo's co-production partner, VIP 2000 TV, considers religious content a cornerstone of its catalog with potential for global success.
