Network Media Group is making a major push into mobile-first entertainment with the launch of Network Verticals, a dedicated division focused on developing, producing, and distributing premium vertical video content.
The new venture targets the fast-growing sector that has seen feature-length stories serialized into 50 to 100 short-form episodes, each running 60 to 90 seconds in length and filmed specifically in a 9:16 aspect ratio for smartphone viewing. While the format gained traction through scripted dramas and soap opera-style serials, Network Verticals plans to expand into unscripted true crime, comedy, music, horror, and sports.
“Verticals represent one of the most significant shifts we’ve seen in how audiences now regularly discover and consume content,” said Derik Murray, Network’s Founder and CEO. “We’ve consistently earned the trust of the world’s A-list talent, high-profile IP holders, and global distributors, streamers, and broadcasters, and Network Verticals gives us the opportunity to bring that expertise to an evolving format and a new generation of audiences.”
The financial trajectory for the format is driving heavy industry investment, with global tech research firm Omdia estimating that the global vertical content market generated $11 billion in revenue in 2025 and will hit $14 billion by the end of 2026. Variety projects the sector could reach $26 billion by 2030.
“Verticals are exploding because they meet the evolving needs of today’s audiences, delivering short-form content to their cell phones,” added Network’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul Gertz. “What makes the opportunity particularly compelling is the format’s strong monetization potential, with subscription and transactional revenue already growing at an exponential rate. As the business evolves to include advertising, franchises, and new distribution models, we see significant potential for premium storytelling and new revenue opportunities in this space.”
Both legacy studios and streaming giants are investing in the format, including Fox Entertainmentm which recently acquired an equity stake in Holywater – the creator of the free, vertical My Drama app – with a commitment to produce over 200 shows. Disney+ has introduced a dedicated “Verts” feed inside its app, while platforms like Netflix, Peacock, YouTube, Amazon, and TikTok are investing in vertical storytelling as both a standalone content category and audience engagement tool.
Eric MacDonald, Vice President of Studios, Network Verticals – which will operate as a standalone content pipeline within the company – builds on a history of adapting to new platforms and emerging formats.
“We were one of a select group of production companies chosen to create original content for the innovative but short-lived mobile platform Quibi, conceived by Jeffrey Katzenberg and launched at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave us an early opportunity to leverage our premium production experience to short-form, mobile-first storytelling,” said MacDonald.
