ReelShort

ReelShort is a short-form drama streaming platform developed by Crazy Maple Studio, a U.S.-based subsidiary of COL Digital Publishing Group. Founded in 2022 by Joey Jia, ReelShort delivers bite-sized vertical drama episodes (1-2 minutes) and has grown to over $300 million in revenue. The app pioneered the 'dramaslop' format and became one of the top-grossing entertainment apps in the U.S., with aggressive freemium monetization and global expansion into Latin America.

ReelShort was founded in 2022 by Joey Jia through Crazy Maple Studio, a U.S.-based subsidiary of COL Digital Publishing Group. Jia had established Crazy Maple Studio seven years earlier in 2015, dedicating it to IP monetization platforms. The company's first product was "Chapters," a visual novel story platform that gained traction with users looking for interactive fiction experiences. Throughout this period, Jia and his team were constantly exploring new ways to monetize intellectual property and content in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In 2022, Jia observed a significant trend in China where platforms like TikTok (Douyin) and Kuaishou became increasingly popular, with content creators beginning to shoot short stories and dramatic series that attracted massive audiences. He identified a unique opportunity in the middle ground between short-form content and traditional storytelling concepts, recognizing that Western markets were underserved in this particular format. This insight led to the development of ReelShort as a dedicated platform for short-form vertical drama content.

Initially, Jia attempted to bring this concept to traditional Hollywood distribution channels, but found limited interest due to the relatively small investment sizes typical of short-form content production. Undeterred, he made the strategic decision to build his own distribution app called ReelShort, specifically designed to showcase these types of micro-dramas to Western audiences. This approach allowed the company to maintain creative control while building a direct relationship with viewers.

ReelShort's growth in 2023 was explosive and unprecedented. The app rapidly climbed to the top of Apple's App Store entertainment charts in the United States, at times surpassing established giants like Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube in daily downloads. The platform's innovative format, combining addictive cliffhanger-driven storytelling with an aggressive freemium monetization model, proved highly effective at converting viewers into paying customers. The success demonstrated the viability of short-form vertical drama as a legitimate entertainment category.

By 2024, ReelShort had achieved tens of millions of downloads and was generating substantial revenue through its innovative coin-based payment system. The app's remarkable success spawned numerous competitors and copycat apps, effectively establishing short-form vertical drama as a recognized entertainment category. COL Digital Publishing Group reported that ReelShort had become one of its most significant revenue drivers, contributing to the parent company's strong performance on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

In 2025, ReelShort's financial performance reached new heights with the company reportedly generating over $300 million in revenue. This success translated into dramatic gains for COL Group, which trades on the Guangzhou stock exchange with a market cap of approximately $2 billion. Despite the impressive revenue, COL Group remained unprofitable due to heavy investments in paid marketing, particularly on TikTok, and content development. The company's aggressive freemium model, which makes the free version intentionally unpleasant to use while charging premium rates for full access, proved crucial to this financial success.

In 2026, ReelShort continues its global expansion, particularly targeting Latin America, which has emerged as the fastest-growing region for short-form drama engagement. According to market intelligence, Latin American downloads of the top 20 short-drama apps increased by 402% year-on-year in 2025, building on a 4,300% increase from 2024. Globally, short-drama platform downloads surged by 186% year-on-year to 733 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, surpassing those of traditional streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+. The company's vision, as articulated by Jia, is to build ReelShort into a PUGC (professional user-generated content) platform, led by their own content but also featuring high-quality stories from creators worldwide.