Playlet: Reels of Tiny Shows has unveiled a new app that is already shaking up the entertainment landscape with vertical micro-dramas and exclusive series that are making waves and big revenues in the US and globally.
Launched in January this year, Playlet has already carved out a name in the vertical micro-drama market. Within just two months, the app climbed to 14th place in the US iOS Entertainment category, with its revenue reaching over $1 million by March 2024. This rapid rise, marked by outstanding user engagement and revenue generation, sets a new standard in the industry.
Jian Zhou, CEO of MicroshowTime Limited and the force behind Playlet said micro-dramas aim to distill stories into two-hour series with episodes lasting just 1-2 minutes. Zhou says this aligns well with modern content consumption habits.
"Many internet products focus on leveraging their strengths, but for micro-dramas, it's the weaknesses that are decisive," Zhou explained, referencing her "Weakest Link Theory" of short dramas. According to Zhou, this approach highlights the significance of addressing every stage of production, from scriptwriting to post-production, to ensure a drama's success.
Zhou, who has more than 15 years of experience in the internet industry, including leadership positions at YY Gaming and Huya Live, underscored how her team was set on challenging the landscape and offering something new to audiences worldwide.
"Mature fields often lead to fixed ways of thinking. I don't like staying in my comfort zone for too long," Zhou told the press in an interview.
Since its launch, Playlet has already attracted over 4 million members, with individual videos surpassing 100 million views. At present, the app hosts over 50 short dramas, with 4-6 new self-produced series released every month. Playlet's success rate for self-produced hits is impressive, with about one-third of its dramas getting over a million collections.
Compared to industry pioneers that took a while to reach levels of success, the internet has seen Playlet's rapid rise as a game-changer not just in the micro drama space but in the whole entertainment scene. According to Zhou, this shows the app's innovative approach and its deep understanding of user psychology and commercial potential.
By February 2024, in-app purchase revenue had climbed by 280% and download volume by 220% compared to September 2023. Over 40 micro-drama apps have entered overseas markets, amassing nearly 55 million cumulative downloads and generating $170 million in in-app purchase revenue.
"Micro-dramas are part of the content industry. I believe a core issue is whether you respect the content," Jian Zhou explained. "Many people treat micro-dramas as a business, producing shoddy work, thinking it's enough just to have white actors, even if they speak with non-native English accents. Teams that don't understand local content are bound to be eliminated.
Moreover, you need to deeply cultivate the market. People often oversimplify the overseas market, assuming that what's popular in China will automatically be popular abroad. Finally, you must find a production team that understands micro-dramas. Every step is crucial, and with the high cost of filming overseas, making one or two missteps can be very risky."
Playlet is currently available for download on Apple iOS and Google Play