BET Studios is moving into the fast-growing microdrama sector through a new partnership with startup platform aTwist, as traditional television companies continue experimenting with shortform, mobile-first storytelling formats.
The agreement will see Paramount-owned BET develop and produce original scripted projects designed to work across both linear television and vertical-video distribution. Under the model, BET will debut longform episodic cuts on its cable platforms before the content is reformatted into vertically structured microseries for aTwist’s mobile app
The companies said the collaboration will focus on stories “rooted in Black culture and community,” while creating a lower-cost programming pipeline that can operate across traditional and digital distribution windows.
“BET is planting our stake in the ground for the next era of storytelling,” said Aisha Summers-Burke, EVP, head of creative at BET Studios. “The microseries format represents one of the most significant shifts in how content is created, distributed, and consumed, and we’re positioning BET at the forefront of that evolution. Our partnership with aTwist brings a best-in-class team and a format built for the future. Together we’re creating a pipeline that reflects Black culture and drives the conversation.”
The deal marks another sign of established media companies testing the commercial potential of vertical dramas, a format that has rapidly expanded in the US following the success of platforms such as ReelShort and GoodShort. Unlike many competitors in the space, however, aTwist plans to incorporate a more traditional windowing strategy, with projects premiering first on television before being reimaging for mobile-first distribution.
aTwist – previously operating under the name MicroCo – was founded by former Showtime president Jana Winograde, former NBCUniversal television executive Susan Rovner and former ABC Entertainment Group chairman Lloyd Braun. The company is backed through a joint venture between Cineverse and Banyan Ventures and is preparing to launch its standalone app later this year.
In a joint statement, Winograde, Rovner and Braun said: “This collaboration reinforces that microseries aren’t just a format, they’re a scalable pipeline for cross-platform storytelling. BET is a true cultural cornerstone, with one of the most loyal and engaged audiences in media, and we feel incredibly fortunate to partner with a brand that has consistently championed authentic storytelling.”
