FEATURES
AR upsizes micro-drama in multi-genre expansion strategy; Southeast Asia streaming platforms, telcos add vertical drama to local packs
14 July 2025
Hong Kong-based regional production house, AR Asia Productions, has upsized its vertical video rollout, delivering micro-drama titles at scale in Indonesia with streaming platform Vidio and in Thailand with True Corp’s TrueVision Now, as well as sealing distribution deals for four of its 10 vertical drama apps with telcos in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The micro-drama push runs alongside production on two long-form scripted series. These expand AR’s footprint from vertical and unscripted long-form, and put the three-year-old company on track for its biggest year yet.
In addition, AR is driving a Taiwanese-backed co-production initiative – dubbed “Rocket” – to partner with Korean, Thai and Indonesian producers for a slate of six Chinese-language genre films backed by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), and involving Korea’s Bound Entertainment led by Samuel Ha, Thailand’s Transformation Films by Sangar Chatchairungru, and Indonesia’s Sinemart Production. The six titles are spearheaded by AR founder Ronan Wong.
AR’s micro-drama business rides outsize interest in the format. The company delivered more than 150 titles in Southeast Asia in the first six months of this year and has added almost 1,000 titles in Chinese and English to its content catalogue. AR also offers tailored vertical video sales and editing services.
In Indonesia, Telkomsel is offering multiple tier 1 apps, including Flex TV since December 2024, in a deal brokered by AR.
In Malaysia, Celcom Digi has added Playlet, home to global vertical blockbusters such as "The Mayor’s XXL Wife, Her Stunning Return". In Thailand, telco AIS has picked up Shortmax, whose lineup includes werewolf romance, "Forbidden desires: Alpha’s Love". Officially launched in June, ShortMax is now a headline feature in AIS’ mega entertainment bundle, which also includes the English Premier League and top-tier OTT services.
About 18 months after AR entered the micro-drama space, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Anne Chan, is aiming for a presence in five major Southeast Asia markets by the end of this year, and says additional collaborations are ongoing in Japan and Korea.
The two titles follow AR’s first reality show production, "The Maverick Academy", which debuted on Netflix at the end of 2024 and has been picked up by Singapore’s Mediacorp and Thailand’s TrueID.
“At AR, we are passionate about international co-production and content distribution,” said Chan. “Whether it’s long-form, short-form, or micro-drama, we bridge partners and opportunities, working closely with the regional industry. We look forward to building more strategic content partnerships ...
Hong Kong-based regional production house, AR Asia Productions, has upsized its vertical video rollout, delivering micro-drama titles at scale in Indonesia with streaming platform Vidio and in Thailand with True Corp’s TrueVision Now, as well as sealing distribution deals for four of its 10 vertical drama apps with telcos in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The micro-drama push runs alongside production on two long-form scripted series. These expand AR’s footprint from vertical and unscripted long-form, and put the three-year-old company on track for its biggest year yet.
In addition, AR is driving a Taiwanese-backed co-production initiative – dubbed “Rocket” – to partner with Korean, Thai and Indonesian producers for a slate of six Chinese-language genre films backed by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), and involving Korea’s Bound Entertainment led by Samuel Ha, Thailand’s Transformation Films by Sangar Chatchairungru, and Indonesia’s Sinemart Production. The six titles are spearheaded by AR founder Ronan Wong.
AR’s micro-drama business rides outsize interest in the format. The company delivered more than 150 titles in Southeast Asia in the first six months of this year and has added almost 1,000 titles in Chinese and English to its content catalogue. AR also offers tailored vertical video sales and editing services.
In Indonesia, Telkomsel is offering multiple tier 1 apps, including Flex TV since December 2024, in a deal brokered by AR.
In Malaysia, Celcom Digi has added Playlet, home to global vertical blockbusters such as "The Mayor’s XXL Wife, Her Stunning Return". In Thailand, telco AIS has picked up Shortmax, whose lineup includes werewolf romance, "Forbidden desires: Alpha’s Love". Officially launched in June, ShortMax is now a headline feature in AIS’ mega entertainment bundle, which also includes the English Premier League and top-tier OTT services.
About 18 months after AR entered the micro-drama space, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Anne Chan, is aiming for a presence in five major Southeast Asia markets by the end of this year, and says additional collaborations are ongoing in Japan and Korea.
The two titles follow AR’s first reality show production, "The Maverick Academy", which debuted on Netflix at the end of 2024 and has been picked up by Singapore’s Mediacorp and Thailand’s TrueID.
“At AR, we are passionate about international co-production and content distribution,” said Chan. “Whether it’s long-form, short-form, or micro-drama, we bridge partners and opportunities, working closely with the regional industry. We look forward to building more strategic content partnerships that foster mutual growth and innovation.”
Brought to you by AR Asia Productions
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