A trio of senior execs from the US, Western Europe and Turkey have come together to launch Shorties Studios, an outfit dedicated to premium short-form vertical series.
The company, headquartered across LA, London and Istanbul, is helmed by former Netflix executive Kelly Luegenbiehl, OGM Pictures founder Onur Güvenatam and former CBS programming chief Jon Koa. Shorties Studios will specialise in mobile-native, shortform projects for streamers, social platforms and brand-funded partners.
The launch of Shorties comes as the microdrama and vertical-first content sectors have seen a rapid expansion outside Asia. Over the past year, a wave of emerging entrants – including MicroCo, GammaTime and Holywater – has pushed further into the space, while established players such as Fox Entertainment and Mediapro Studio have also begun investing in bite-sized premium dramas.
Luegenbiehl (pictured), who exited Netflix nearly two years ago after overseeing international originals and later franchise series, said the opportunities in vertical formats feel reminiscent of the early days of global streaming expansion.
“When I left legacy media ten years ago to pioneer international content for Netflix, no one could have imagined the impact non-English language content would have on the world, transforming TV consumption as we know it,” she said. “Today, I see that same potential with vertical content. We want to meet audiences where they are and help shape the next evolution of storytelling with vertical premium-generated content.”
Güvenatam, whose company OGM Pictures has been behind several Turkish global hits, said the new venture aims to bring the creative values of Turkish drama to a rapidly evolving medium. “With OGM Pictures, we have proven that Turkish storytelling can resonate powerfully across the world — from local sensations to global hits, reaching audiences in more than hundred countries,” he said. “Today, audience behaviour is shifting once again, and with Shorties Studios we are stepping confidently into that next frontier. Our ambition is to bring the same emotional depth, creative boldness, and global reach into a new format that audiences consume everyday.”
Koa, who most recently served as EVP of comedy development and programming at CBS, added that the data-rich environment of vertical platforms presents new pathways for commercial success. “With Shorties, we’re building a studio focused on world-class short-form series that will live across multiple platforms and reach audiences in ways they never could before,” he said. “What excites me is bringing the same discipline, thoughtfulness, and creative ambition I’ve had throughout my career into a space that’s growing at remarkable speed. Vertical storytelling, with its real-time data and analytics, gives us clear signals not only on what resonates, but also where the opportunities for virality, brand partnerships, and full 360° monetisation truly live.”
