Two influential players in the entertainment industry are uniting to transform the microdrama and vertical video space.

Los Angeles, CA – October 7, 2025 – Fox Entertainment is proud to announce that it is taking an equity stake in Holywater, a leading provider in the vertical video and micro-drama space. It harnesses the power of AI and the limitless possibilities of human imagination to create engaging micro-dramas and immersive e-book experiences. “Innovation in digital storytelling is shaping the future of entertainment, and investing in vertical video positions Fox Entertainment for sustained, long-term growth as we build a modern studio for the future,” said Rob Wade, CEO of Fox Entertainment.

This partnership is all about discovering fresh and innovative ways to tell stories. We aim to provide opportunities for people who usually wouldn’t have the chance to finally share their story. By offering the necessary tools and flexibility, we enable individuals to bring their talents and ideas to life quickly. Plus, we offer platforms that connect them with a global audience, ensuring their stories resonate far and wide.

“Vertical streaming is one of the fastest-growing areas in entertainment, and our goal at Holywater is to make vertical series mainstream by raising the bar on quality and widening the genre slate,” said Holywater co-founders and co-CEOs Bogdan Nesvit and Anatolii Kasianov. “We’ve been focusing on storytelling depth to prove that verticals can carry premium drama, thriller, romance, and more – not just a narrow set of tropes.

Our partnership with FOX Entertainment validates that vision and gives us the scale and creative firepower to accelerate it. FOX has already been a collaborative, innovative partner, and together we’re empowering major talent and building a vibrant library of gripping vertical series for audiences worldwide.”

The partnership leverages FOX Entertainment Studios’ extensive content portfolio. This includes Studio Ramsay Global, featuring the beloved chef Gordon Ramsay; the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment; and both scripted and unscripted studios. The talent roster includes Denis Leary, Jon Hamm, Hannah Waddingham, Josh Charles, Annie Potts, Minnie Driver, Ken Jeong, and more. Additionally, the partnership benefits from a rich library of over 200 films on the platform. The Raine Group acted as an advisor to Holywater in connection with this transaction.

ABOUT HOLYWATER

HOLYWATER is a trailblazing tech company reshaping the world of entertainment. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and a future-facing business model, it empowers filmmakers, authors, and studios to bring their stories to life and distribute them to global audiences. Founded in Ukraine in 2020 by tech visionaries Bogdan Nesvit and Anatolii Kasianov, HOLYWATER’s diversified content ecosystem reaches over 60 million users. Its four marquee apps are: My Drama, a global leader in the booming vertical streaming space; FreeBits, a companion vertical streaming app differentiated by its ad-supported model; My Passion, one of the world’s most popular e-book platforms; and My Muse, a leading platform for vertical series produced with the support of generative AI. Each platform leverages serialized, daily content releases to maximize engagement, with installments accessible through multiple convenient monetization options. To support its in-house content production, HOLYWATER works with leading creators and studios worldwide and leverages partnerships with tech leaders such as Meta, Google, and TikTok to maximize content reach.

“Chera TV Takes the Spotlight: Legal Drama, Dance, and Romance Premiering April 27

When I was ten years old, I made a discovery that changed the course of my life: I loved writing. Originally, I wanted to be an animator, but after writing a love story in my fourth-grade English class, I realized my passion for movies and storytelling. That passion found an outlet in GoAnimate, a website that let creators like me drag and drop our way to making films—it was like having a mini film studio in my pocket. I built a fanbase and honed my voice there, but when the site shut down, I searched for new platforms. Most were expensive and seemed to prey on writers’ dreams rather than nurture them. That frustration—and hope for something better—is exactly why I created Fade2Stage: to give creators an accessible, supportive place to bring their visions to life.

This spring, a new player in streaming is stepping onto the stage, and it’s doing things very differently.

On April 27, Los Angeles-based Chera TV, the female-founded and artist-led vertical streaming platform built for the mobile generation, will debut with two original series: Legal Queens and To Her Beat, followed by the romantic drama A Shot at Love on May 11.

The platform is built on a simple but radical idea: cinematic storytelling designed specifically for vertical viewing paired with ethical production standards and a creator-first model that prioritizes fair pay, residuals, and safety on set.

“We’re not just building another streaming app – we’re creating a new creative ecosystem where every voice matters, every story has a home, and every creator is protected and respected,” said Co-Founder and EVP of Production & Development Kylie Karson.

The launch lineup offers three very different windows into modern storytelling:

Legal Queens (Premiering April 27)

A high-stakes legal reality series set inside West Coast Trial Lawyers, the Los Angeles firm handling headline-making celebrity cases. Cameras follow a fierce all-female team of attorneys navigating courtroom drama, celebrity clients, and intense rivalries under the leadership of CNN legal analyst Neama Rahmani.

To Her Beat (Premiering April 27)

Set against a backdrop of sweat-soaked studios, neon-lit warehouses, and early-2000s dance culture, To Her Beat is a coming-of-age love story about finding your voice, choosing your people, and dancing like your life depends on it… because sometimes, it does.

A Shot at Love (Premiering May 11)

When a global movie star and a war photographer-turned-paparazza meet at a luxury couples’ retreat meant to fix a troubled marriage, no one expects a scandal or a spark. But as healing rituals go sideways, fake relationships unravel, and feelings get inconveniently real. They must choose: survive in Silence, or risk everything for love.

“Chera TV is redefining the way we see and celebrate creatives in entertainment, both in front of and behind the camera. Our launch marks more than just a new platform; it’s a movement amplifying real voices, raw stories, and bold creativity. A commitment to authenticity and empowerment, providing creators the freedom to lead, inspire, and change the narrative, is what distinguishes Chera TV,” says Calvin Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Chera TV.

At a moment when conversations around creative burnout, ethical production, and representation are dominating industry headlines, Chera TV is positioning itself as an alternative model for the future of entertainment.

“We don’t need another formulaic CEO romance, but grounded, ethical storytelling that values both the viewer and the artist. From unequal pay and lack of diversity to limited creative freedom, unsafe working conditions, and storylines reliant on gratuitous violence against women, Chera TV is a rebellion against these reemerging industry flaws. Our viewers deserve stories with intention. And the artists behind them deserve a voice in the content they’re creating. That’s where the magic happens,” said Candace Mizga, Co-Founder and VP of Production & Development.

Recently recognized for its innovative approach to vertical storytelling and fair pay practices, Chera TV is already gaining attention as one of the most intriguing new platforms emerging from Los Angeles.

About Chera TV:

Chera TV is a female-founded streaming platform based in Los Angeles, California. Focused on ethical storytelling and creator-first production, the company produces cinematic-quality series optimized for vertical viewing. Chera TV’s mission is to empower diverse voices and redefine digital entertainment for the mobile generation, offering a platform where every creator’s vision can thrive.

I first got introduced to microdramas through YouTube Shorts. At the time, I didn’t even know what a microdrama was—I was familiar with short-form content like Vine, but this was something new. Before I knew it, microdramas were everywhere. Almost every creator I knew either had a platform or was making bite-sized content. Was I surprised? Not really. With Vine and YouTube Shorts paving the way, it was only a matter of time before they blew up.

Now, Refinery Media and COL Group are doing something that will challenge the status quo and give birth to a whole new genre: SupermodelMe, the world’s first reality microdrama series.

The new series, “SupermodelMe: Make It or Break It,” is set to premiere on COL’s flagship global mobile platform, FlareFlow, in mid-2026. The announcement was made at Hong Kong FilMart.

This move marks a significant milestone for the unscripted television industry: it’s the first time a well-established reality franchise is being completely reimagined for mobile-native, vertical-format episodic storytelling at such scale. “SupermodelMe,” created and owned by Refinery Media, previously ran for six seasons—including an international run on Netflix—and has become one of Asia’s most notable modeling competition brands.

Thai-American TV personality Cindy Bishop returns as host, joined by judges Ase Wang and Patricia Gouw.  “SupermodelMe has always been about finding raw talent and giving them a real shot. Going vertical doesn’t change that—it just puts us where more people are actually watching shows now: their mobiles. I’m excited to be back, and to be part of something so groundbreaking.”- Cindy Bishop.

“SupermodelMe is proof that regionally rooted content can have universal appeal, and this is the first time a franchise of this caliber has moved to the vertical format on a major global microdrama platform,” said Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group. “I’m excited that FlareFlow is leading the charge. By leveraging COL’s experience in the vertical space and FlareFlow’s global reach, we’re creating the right environment for SupermodelMe’s legacy to keep evolving.

The move marks a milestone for the unscripted television industry: for the first time, an established reality IP is being fully retooled for mobile-native, vertical-format episodic storytelling at this scale. Created and owned by Refinery Media, “SupermodelMe” ran for six seasons, including an international run on Netflix, and built a following that positioned it as one of the most recognizable modelling competition brands emerging from Asia.

“‘SupermodelMe’ is proof that regionally rooted content can create global appeal, and this is the first time a franchise of this caliber has made the move to the vertical format on any major global microdrama platform,” added Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group. “I am excited that FlareFlow is leading that charge. By leveraging COL’s depth of experience in the vertical space and FlareFlow’s global reach, we are creating the right environment for ‘SupermodelMe’s’ legacy to continue evolving and to introduce the IP to more global, younger, mobile-first audiences.”

Karen Seah, founder and CEO of Refinery Media, stated, “SupermodelMe has always embraced reinvention. From its beginnings as an online-only series, to evolving into traditional long-form TV, and now reimagined for vertical storytelling, each chapter brings the franchise closer to its audience. This partnership shows how unscripted formats can successfully adapt to vertical storytelling, opening the door for a new wave of micro entertainment.”

‘SupermodelMe’ is proof that regionally rooted content can have global appeal, and this is the first time a franchise of this caliber has made the move to the vertical format on any major global microdrama platform,” added Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group. “I am excited that FlareFlow is leading that charge. By leveraging COL’s depth of experience in the vertical space and FlareFlow’s global reach, we are creating the right environment for ‘SupermodelMe’s’ legacy to continue evolving and to introduce the IP to more global, younger, mobile-first audiences.”

Karen Seah, founder and CEO of Refinery Media, said: “‘SupermodelMe’ has always embraced reinvention. From its early beginnings as an online-only series, evolving into traditional long-form television, and now remade for vertical storytelling, each chapter has brought the franchise closer to its audience. This partnership allows us to demonstrate how unscripted formats can successfully adapt to vertical storytelling, opening the door for a new wave of micro entertainment.”

ABOUT FLAREFLOW AND COL GROUP

FlareFlow, COL’s flagship global distribution platform, topped the U.S. entertainment app charts last September and now boasts 33 million registered users across more than 200 countries and regions. The platform supports 14 languages and has released around 5,200 series to date. Its top-performing drama has garnered over 193 million views and generated more than $15 million in in-app revenue.

COL Group, a publicly listed Chinese media and entertainment company, pioneered the microdrama format in China before expanding internationally with ReelShort in the U.S. and the launch of FlareFlow. Singapore-based Refinery Media’s credits include “Asia’s Next Top Model” and “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition,” with productions recognized at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. Their current slate includes “Man of the Hour,” an unscripted series on horology, and their first co-produced feature film, “Mothernet,” set to premiere on Netflix.