MTN is not trying to out-spend Netflix. It wants short, cliffhanger-heavy dramas made for phones. The telecoms group has invited established African production companies to pitch projects, including micro-dramas, for MTN One TV, the streaming platform it launched in June, TechCabal reports. Selected producers will present at FAME Week Africa in Cape Town.
What a micro-drama is
Micro-dramas are stories told in vertical video episodes of two to three minutes. Each one gives just enough plot to hook you, then cuts off at the crucial moment. To see what happens next you keep watching, pay to unlock episodes or sit through ads.
In China, micro-drama revenue has outpaced the cinema box office for two years running, and downloads of short-drama apps grew by more than 140% between early 2024 and early 2026, according to Sensor Tower data cited by TechCabal. Asia has dedicated apps such as ReelShort and DramaBox. Africa has no equivalent producer yet.
Why a telco wants this
MTN wants to earn from what people do with their data, not only from selling it. One TV mixes local stories, live channels and international programmes, with payment by airtime and mobile money where available. It can give content away, sell subscriptions or charge per episode.
