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It seems like every couple of weeks we receive news about the entertainment industry that affects us as television viewers. there High prices. there Corporate merger. Live sports streaming is messy. There is an ongoing debate about whether we have returned to the era of cable TV, despite the dominance of streaming services on our wallets and screens.
It’s no surprise that, on average, we spend $101 a month on streaming here in the US. that it probably It is not surprising that the number of households that still have traditional television has fallen to 41%, while 91% of us have streaming subscriptions. According to Parks Associates. He was Broadcast Stranger Things, NFL games, and Landman and live events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’re watching a lot at home, and we’re watching even more on our phones – whether we’re out or staying home.
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But there’s something else going on. We, as viewers, change the main type of content, influencing how and what stories are created.
Microseries could be the next type
Deloitte published its report Technology, Media and Telecommunications Outlook 2026 Report This November, we highlight the new directions television is taking, thanks to our evolving viewing habits. Takeaway? Get ready for more miniseries and podcasts.
This year, media research experts say we’re consuming more video content through social media and streaming services, like YouTube, Netflix and TikTok, rather than traditional TV. While there is a slight increase across all generations, Generation Z and Millennials People surveyed get most of their entertainment videos through social media and consider it their main way of watching TV – via their phones. It’s a shift that has audiences accustomed to shortened forms of entertainment where there is an appetite for short-form vertical videos, and mini-series could become the next big wave.
Popular in China, mini-series—and its subgroup, mini-dramas—are short-form television shows and small-format films designed for mobile viewing, typically lasting one to two minutes per episode. (Yes, it looks like Quibi is now defunct platform.) This concept is taking off in the UK, where there are production houses like Onset Octopus dedicated to just this format, and here in the US, where you can find apps like ReelShort, DramaBox or GoodShort that pump out soap opera-like dramas.
Occasionally, you may have seen clips pop up on your TikTok or Instagram feed, urging you to stream I Kicked Out My Three Fiances in My Second Life in its entirety — broken down into 60- or 90-second clips. Although some content is free, a paid subscription is required to stream all the content in the app library.
Here’s a look at some of the titles that the Dramabox microdrama app has to offer.
Deloitte predicts that in 2026, In-app microseries revenue will rise To $7.8 billion, double the expected 2025 amount of $3.8 billion. For traditional Hollywood entertainment brands, there are opportunities to get into this growing genre of micro-content through collaborations with individual creators, carefully curated use of generative AI or using what these companies already have.
When I spoke with Winnie Katzenstein, a managing director at Deloitte, she suggested that media giants might see an opportunity to capture viewers’ attention by “using it to actually go back to the intellectual property that already exists.” It’s a way to reconnect with fans like us by shifting our attention towards familiar characters and titles through newly created bite-sized content – or even AI-generated content – and in fact, it may not be that far-fetched for some companies.
Eric Scherer, President of Disney Television Studios, he recently told Variety He hopes to bring micro-storytelling to the platform soon via vertical video, but there are no firm plans on when that will be. For now, the focus is on how to scale up production to meet Disney Plus standards.
Viewers seem to be open to more by activating the consultation It is reported that 52% of adults The survey included people between the ages of 18 and 34 who used at least one mini-drama app to watch Something. This does not mean that streaming TV platforms will become extinct, but it may mean that what we will see in the world of vertical video expands to more than Toby scenes Netflix feature or experience with Short-form abstracts On its mobile application.
Audio video files or podcasts are gaining popularity
Who says podcasts are just for your ears? Audio video files hit TV and phone screens as frequently as new episodes of network shows like Chicago Fire. There’s also a term you can embrace or hate: podcasting.
You’ve probably already watched videos on YouTube, Spotify, or Wondery, and you’ve probably also scrolled through clips (viral or not) on social media. Some viewers stream episodes using paid subscriptions, and you’re also likely watching ads in exchange for a free episode. No matter how you slice it, it’s a formula that’s here to stay, and as you might have guessed, there are two groups that see it regularly: Millennials and Generation Z.
During its fall 2025 survey, Deloitte learned that 27% of consumers it surveyed in the US watch podcasts weekly, and Activate Consulting said 70% of the top 50 podcasts in the US have a video offering. When you think of your must-watch TV shows, do you include titles like Crime Junkie AF or Club Shay Shay? Pointing to factors such as parasocial relationships with guests and podcast hosts, as well as the ability to incorporate visual elements, Deloitte noted that viewers gain a better sense of authenticity and connection – making them more likely to come back and watch more.
Being a mainstay on YouTube, audio videos are spreading to more screens. In a big move, Netflix has entered the game, partnering with… iHeartMediaand Barstool Sports and Spotify to launch video podcasts on the streaming platform in 2026 for viewers in the United States. If you’re a fan of The Breakfast Club, The Ringer NFL Show, Conspiracy Theories, or The Ryen Russillo Show, you’ll be able to open the Netflix app to stream these titles and at least two dozen others.
One of the vodcast titles you’ll be watching on Netflix next year.
What does this mean for the future of television?
The Hollywood Reporter described it Vancouver as a small drama production A hotspot, with little interest pouring in from Hollywood. And Netflix isn’t the only big streaming company entering the vodcast arena, with Prime Video streaming new episodes every week of New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. Streaming services and other media companies continue to experiment with vertical video formats in different ways.
Viewers like you — who watch TV on their phones — should prepare for new and broader forms of entertainment that include mini-episodes and talk TV shows (also known as podcasts). Expect an increase in access to audio video files on your phones and TVs in the next year and beyond, but don’t expect anyone to try to snatch traditional weekly medical procedurals and hour-long streamable episodes off your hands just yet. Streaming and cable are still on the list, but they’re also built into your phone’s screen as well.
I asked Katzenstein what all this says about each generation’s preferences for content and how it is presented.
“I think the level of access that younger generations have and that they’ve been trained to become accustomed to has a huge impact on where they want to be involved,” she said. “I think there’s also a desire to get relevant content when I want it, the way I want it — something I think younger generations are just getting used to.”
With her own teenage children in mind, Katzenstein explained that the idea of having to wait for theatrical films, or for something to arrive via streaming or linear television — released on a big media provider’s terms — is “very different for generations that are growing up and seeing people that are relevant to them.” She added that entertainment companies will be pushed to understand this and meet the need.